The local government unit (LGU) of Sevilla, Bohol was awarded a Safety Seal Certification from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for having 43 units of handwashing stations established through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).

The Safety Seal Certification program of DILG measures the compliance of an establishment, organization, and other units to minimum public health standards.

KALAHI-CIDSS is the Community-Driven Development (CDD) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The program provides community subproject grants through CDD to enable LGU beneficiaries to manage the local transmission of COVID-19 cases while helping communities implement their priority needs.

The availability of handwashing stations in all 13 barangays, among other measures, highly contributed to the Municipality of Sevilla  receiving the DILG certification. Moreover, KALAHI-CIDSS also provided medical equipment, sanitary products, and disinfectants to supplement the LGU’s and partner health agencies’ adherence to health standards.

Through these sub-projects, the DSWD ensures that LGU-beneficiaries maintain safe public spaces, which are critical to the reopening of local economies.

Angelita Calamba, Barangay Development Council Technical Working Group Head, said, “Salamat sa KALAHI-CIDSS sa paghatag kanamo og handwashing facility. Napahimuslan kini namo aron malikayan ang pagsaka sa kaso sa COVID-19. Kini nagamit usab sa mga evacuees sa among barangay human mi naapektohi sa Bagyong Odette (Thanks to KALAHI-CIDSS for providing us with these handwashing facilities. We took advantage of this to stop the spread of COVID-19 cases. It also helped evacuees in our barangay after we were affected by Typhoon Odette).”

In its bid to adopt to the new normal, the inclusion of safety measures as part of the sub-projects to be funded under KALAHI-CIDSS is just one of the innovations adopted by the DSWD at the height of the pandemic.

As the threat of the COVID-19 continues, the DSWD emphasized that processes and programs must be responsive to counter the threat to development caused by this health disaster.

The Department continues to remind its beneficiaries and the public to remain vigilant in the midst of the pandemic and adhere to health and safety protocols. ###