Escalante city: At least 2,845 households in 14 conflict-vulnerable villages of Escalante City, Negros Occidental will benefit from the recently completed road projects under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
According to Philippines News Agency, the 14 community road improvement subprojects have a total cost of PHP17.054 million with allocation under the agency's 2025 budget. These projects were formally turned over by the DSWD to the Escalante City government during a ceremonial mass turnover held at the city's coliseum on Tuesday, led by Undersecretary for the PAMANA Peace and Development Group Alan Tanjusay, alongside DSWD-Negros Island Region Director Arwin Razo.
'Paki-ingatan ang mga proyektong 'yan kasi po bihira ang isang city na makatanggap ng ganung karami na mga proyekto mula sa PAMANA. Opo, bihira po sa buong Pilipinas at dito sa Escalante kakaiba kayo (Take good care of these projects because it is rare for a city to receive so many projects from PAMANA. Yes, it is rare in the entire Philippines, and here in Escalante you are unique),' Tanjusay told the barangay officials.
Ten barangays, including Alimango, Binaguiohan, Buenavista, Dian-ay, Japitan, Langub, Libertad, Paitan, Pinapugasan, and Udtongan, received community road improvement subprojects with a total grant allocation of PHP1.2 million each. In Mabini, the road project amounted to PHP1.36 million; Washington, PHP1.293 million; Malasibog, PHP1.258 million; and Rizal, PHP1.141 million.
'The turnover of these projects reinforces the government's commitment to peacebuilding and inclusive development in conflict-vulnerable areas,' Razo said in a statement.
According to DSWD-NIR, all 14 subprojects focus on the improvement of community roads to enhance access to basic services, improve mobility, and support local economic activities. The completed roads will directly benefit 2,845 households, with the aim to strengthen community resilience, promote social cohesion, and address development gaps in geographically isolated and conflict-affected communities.
The PAMANA Peace and Development Program seeks to empower conflict-vulnerable and conflict-affected regions and indigenous communities by providing improved access to basic services and a platform where identified communities can propose projects based on their needs.
