NEARLY 42,000 residents in Northern Samar, Lanao del Norte, and Ilocos Sur are benefiting from healthcare and livelihood projects funded under the Government of India’s Quick Impact Project (QIP) initiative, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said today.
Implemented through the Indian Grant Assistance (IGA) Program, the projects include the construction of a Livelihood Training Center in Bobon, Northern Samar, the upgrading of a Primary Care Facility in Bacolod, Lanao del Norte, and a Barangay Health Station in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur.
Established through a 2023 agreement between the DILG and the Embassy of India in Manila, the IGA Program supports small-scale, high-impact infrastructure projects in health, education, sanitation, and community development. Local government units may receive up to USD50,000 or around P2.8 million per project, with only six proposals approved nationwide during the program’s first cycle.
In Bobon, Northern Samar, around 15,000 residents are expected to benefit from the new Livelihood Training Center, which will host skills training and livelihood programs to improve employability and income opportunities.
According to DILG Assistant Secretary Frank Cruz, the QIP is not merely a facility for skills development, but a space for building resilience and expanding opportunities for the community.
Meanwhile, nearly 25,000 residents in Bacolod, Lanao del Norte will benefit from the upgraded Primary Care Facility, now equipped with diagnostic tools including an X-ray machine, helping reduce long-distance travel for medical services.
DILG Assistant Secretary Lilian De Leon also said that for the people of Bacolod, Lanao del Norte, the Project is life-saving and life-sustaining.
Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shri Harsh Kumar Jain said the initiative reflects the deepening partnership between the two countries.
More than 2,000 residents of Barangay Aluling in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur are also expected to gain improved access to immediate healthcare services through the newly established Barangay Health Station.
The DILG said more India-funded Quick Impact Projects are set to be inaugurated across the country in the coming months.