The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is gearing up for a significant initiative next year with its new community-led climate adaptation project under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).

The DSWD said the “Panahon ng Pagkilos” project, which is currently in its initial planning stage, is strategically designed to tackle the dual challenges of poverty and climate change in vulnerable areas, particularly those prone to severe climatic hazards and home to indigenous populations.

“The KALAHI-CIDSS is committed to institutionalizing its program and preparing a new project to help poor communities in dealing with the climate crisis,” KALAHI-CIDSS National Program Manager Bernadette A. Mapue-Joaquin said in a statement on Monday, July 1.

She pointed out that the climate crisis exacerbates social inequality, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.

“Addressing this requires integrated solutions that promote social justice and leverage local knowledge to ensure that adaptation efforts are inclusive and effective,” Mapue-Joaquin said.

The DSWD said KALAHI-CIDSS has achieved significant milestones, enhancing community resilience by constructing 1,250 community centers, multi-purpose buildings, and evacuation centers, providing safe havens during disasters.

It added that the program provided 928 units of disaster and pandemic response equipment, bolstering local communities’ preparedness and response capabilities.

These resources ensure the timely and effective dissemination of critical information during emergencies, the DSWD said.

It noted that KALAHI-CIDSS also built 3,566 quarantine facilities, re-purposed to manage public health emergencies during disasters.

“Effective local-level financing is essential to build resilience and adaptive capacity in these communities, ensuring that they can withstand and recover from climate-related disasters," Mapue-Joaquin said.