Executives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) are greeted by the pupils of Bislig Elementary School in Tanauan, Leyte during their visit to the school facility on Thursday (January 30).

Led by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and ADB Vice President Scott Morris of the East and Southeast Asia department, the visit is part of the two agencies’ joint efforts to monitor the condition and ground impact of community-driven development projects funded by the ADB, particularly those implemented in Tanauan town.

The Bislig Elementary School was among these projects, being one of the local infrastructures that was hard-hit at the height of Typhoon ‘Yolanda.” (International name: Haiyan). The school was rebuilt in 2015 through the ADB’s funding.

The DSWD officials who accompanied Secretary Gatchalian during the visit were Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez of the Operations Group; Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the Statutory Programs under the Operations Group; Asst. Secretary Juan Carlo Marquez for External Assistance and Development; Director Bernadette Mapue-Joaquin of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS); Director Miramel Laxa of the Sustainable Livelihood Program; Deputy Program Manager Rosalie Dagulo for Program Services and Interventions of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) ; and Regional Director Grace Subong of Field Office (FO) 8 – Eastern Visayas.

The ADB officials present at the activity were Country Director Pavit Ramachandran; Principal Country Specialist Christina Lozano; Country Operations Head Alain Morel; and Social Sector Specialist Amir Hamza Gilani.

Tanauan Mayor Gina Merilo, Vice Mayor Archie Kapunan among other local government officials happily welcomed the DSWD and ADB executives. (LSJ)