Construction Workers in Sugbo, Bohol receive joint income from Kalahi-CIDSS cash-for-work program

Construction Workers in Sugbo, Bohol receive joint income from Kalahi-CIDSS cash-for-work program

The Cash for Work Program for PWDs: A Boost for Guindulman's Disability Community

The Cash-for-Work program targeted at individuals with disabilities (PWDs) is gaining traction, especially in light of Victoria Mapang's positive experience in Guindulman, Bohol.

Mapang, a wheelchair user, secured her income through the Cash-for-Work program, announced on April 23, 2025, by the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS). Her joy at working alongside other PWDs was palpable: "I am grateful because there are many people who struggle with the same issues as I do. This kind of opportunity is a massive step up from just staying at home with nothing to do," she shared.

Engaging individuals with disabilities in employment opportunities is crucial, Mapang added, expressing her gratitude for the initiative.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office (DSWD) 7 disbursed a total of 950,010 pesos in funds for the PWD participants, with payments distributed simultaneously between April 22 and 24, 2025. Of the three local government units (LGUs) in Cebu and Bohol, 1,000 PWDs and their representatives took part in various projects to benefit their respective communities, receiving income to support their families' essential needs.

The participating LGUs included Talisay City (260 participants), Alcoy (53), Alegria (66), Malabuyoc (65) in Cebu, and Presidente Carlos P. Garcia (82), Bien Unido (69), Guindulman (170), Jagna (178), and Lila (57) in Bohol. Of the target 1,000 beneficiaries, 997 had claimed their funds, with the remaining three scheduled for a rescheduled payout before the 2025 midterm elections.

The beneficiaries of the PWD program were employed in community tasks related to gardening, cleaning public spaces, and managing eco-waste. Initially focusing on those without resources or anyone with one or more PWDs, including those impacted by various disabilities, the program has become instrumental in providing income opportunities to underprivileged individuals.

Alce Bumaya, a 50-year-old resident of Barangay Bayabas, Guindulman, Bohol, was one of the initial beneficiaries due to her husband's (her representative's) application for the program. "The aid for my husband's disability is crucial because his condition continues to worsen. I am able to take him to Cebu for medical treatment," Mapang said.

The Power of Support: Cash-for-Work Initiatives and Beyond

While not explicitly focused on Guindulman, programs like the Cash-for-Work initiative highlight the importance of economic empowerment and community integration for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, organizations like Action Against Hunger's recovery efforts following disasters like Typhoon Odette underscore the need for resilience-building initiatives to support vulnerable populations in times of crisis, offering potential blueprints for future interventions.

1. The Cash-for-Work program, initially focused on those without resources or individuals with disabilities (PWDs), is now providing income opportunities to underprivileged individuals in Guindulman, Bohol, and other local government units in Cebu.
2. The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office (DSWD) 7 disbursed funds for the PWD participants, with 1,000 PWDs and their representatives taking part in various projects to benefit their respective communities.
3. Alce Bumaya, a resident of Barangay Bayabas, Guindulman, Bohol, was one of the initial beneficiaries of the Cash-for-Work program due to her husband's application for the program, which provides vital aid for her husband's disability.
4. Engaging individuals with disabilities in employment opportunities, such as through the Cash-for-Work program, is crucial for their economic empowerment and community integration, as shown by the positive experiences of beneficiaries like Victoria Mapang in Guindulman, Bohol.
5. Beyond the Cash-for-Work program, organizations like Action Against Hunger are important in times of crisis, like Typhoon Odette, by offering resilience-building initiatives to support vulnerable populations, providing potential blueprints for future interventions in health-and-wellness, mental-health, and other areas.

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