In a significant move to promote sustainable livelihoods and empower grassroots communities in Eastern Visayas, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 8 facilitated the official release of over โฑ1.1 million, representing the first tranche of the Indian Grant Assistance for the Implementation of Quick Impact Projects (I-QIP), to the Municipality of Bobon, Northern Samar on June 25, 2025, at the DILG 8 Training Center, Tacloban City.
This activity marks not only the beginning of the implementation of the proposed Construction of Livelihood Training Center in Bobon, but also highlights the growing cooperation between the Governments of the Philippines and India in supporting sub-national development through high-impact, community-based projects.
The I-QIP is a development assistance initiative of the Government of India aimed at helping local governments implement short-gestation, high-impact projects that improve service delivery and advance socio-economic development. In the Philippine context, the program supports local government efforts to promote inclusive growth, disaster resilience, public safety, and livelihood enhancement.
Leading the ceremonial turnover, DILG 8 Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe congratulated LGU Bobon for being one of only six recipients nationwide to secure funding from over 1,000 project proposals submitted across the countryโincluding 37 from Eastern Visayas.
โThis milestone fulfills Bobon’s long-standing aspiration to uplift the economic well-being of its constituents through sustained livelihood and skills training development,โ said RD Agabe. โWe also emphasize that implementation must comply with Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) standards to ensure that the benefits of this project reach those who need them most, especially marginalized and underrepresented sectors of the community.โ
RD Agabe further underscored the importance of accountability and long-term impact:
โWe ask for LGU Bobon’s full commitment to the effective and efficient implementation of the project and, just as importantly, to ensure its sustainability. This initiative must serve not just the present, but also future generations of Bobon.โ
The project, with a total allocation of โฑ2.8 million, will fund the construction of a Livelihood Training Center aimed at delivering accessible and inclusive skills development opportunities for Bobonโs most vulnerable labor sectorsโparticularly out-of-school youth, unemployed individuals, and solo parents. Notably, it is the only project in Eastern Visayas approved for funding under I-QIP, highlighting its significance and impact in the region.
Mayor Reny Celespara of Bobon personally extended his gratitude to the DILG for facilitating the grant, noting how timely the support is for their local initiatives.
โWith this project, we hope to bring more livelihood and training programs closer to our peopleโespecially out-of-school youth and young parents who rely on manual labor for their income. We are fully committed to ensuring the success of this initiative,โ Mayor Celespara shared.
The second and third tranches of the fund will be released upon utilization of at least 75% of the first tranche and full compliance with the programโs requirements, as stipulated in the DILG Memorandum dated September 16, 2024. The project is targeted for completion within four months.
The success of Bobonโs perseverance in securing funding for their proposal stands as a testament to the enduring partnership between national government agencies and local government units in advancing responsive and inclusive development at the grassroots level.
