The facility with a total project cost of PHP 1,763,057.02 was funded through DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS and the local government unit of Pandan.

Six (6) isolation huts were rehabilitated that will serve locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and confirmed cases from four (4) barangays, namely Pandan Del Norte (lead barangay), Pandan Del Sur, Napo and Libod.

To sustain the gains of the sub-project, the community is planning to expand the use of the isolation facility.

According to Engr. Rodolfo Icaranom, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, the isolation facility will be converted into a tourism facility after the pandemic is over.

“Ine-expect namin na (We expect that) it will add income and offer additional job opportunities to communities,” Icaranom explained.

For Ma. Pilipina Castillo, chairperson of Barangay Development Council – Technical Working Group (BDC – TWG), she is grateful that citizens were given the chance to plan, budget, and implement the project in their community.

Castillo also vows as chairperson of BDC – TWG to continuously serve her fellow citizens as a volunteer.

“Masaya kahit nakakapagod man ay nakakaramdam ako ng kagalakan sa paraan na pagtulong,” she noted.

(Though working as a volunteer is tiring, helping makes me happy.)

Castillo also added that one of her remarkable learning from the program is compassionate service to others.

The BDC – TWG is a group composed of ordinary citizens selected by the community to supervise and implement the identified intervention of the barangay funded by the program.

DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS turned over the sub-project to the community last April 21, 2022.

The isolation facility is one of the 26 pandemic-related sub-projects of Pandan, Catanduanes that uses the Disaster Response Operations Modality (DROM) process of DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS. The program shifted its mode of implementation to DROM to hasten the approval of community projects during pandemic.

Last year, the program expanded its scope to 76 municipalities in Bicol Region under Additional Financing.

In Catanduanes, DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS is implementing Additional Financing in nine (9) municipalities with a grant amounting to PHP 68,706,500.00.

DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS Additional Financing allocated Pandan with PHP 14,361,200.00 and local counterpart contribution of PHP 3,590,300.00.