Nearly 42,000 Filipinos in Northern Samar, Lanao del Norte, and Ilocos Sur are expected to benefit from new healthcare and livelihood projects funded through a partnership between the Philippine government and India, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The projects were implemented under the Government of India’s Quick Impact Project initiative through the Indian Grant Assistance Program, which supports small-scale community infrastructure projects focused on health, education, sanitation, and livelihood development.
Among the completed initiatives are a Livelihood Training Center in the municipality of Bobon, an upgraded Primary Care Facility in Bacolod, and a Barangay Health Station in Cervantes.
The program was established through a 2023 agreement between the DILG and the Embassy of India in Manila.
Under the initiative, local government units may receive grants of up to US$50,000, or roughly P2.8 million, for approved projects. Only six proposals nationwide were selected during the first cycle of implementation.
In Bobon, around 15,000 residents are expected to benefit from the new livelihood training center, which will host skills development and income-generation programs for local communities.
DILG Assistant Secretary Frank Cruz said the facility is intended not only to provide training but also to help strengthen resilience and expand opportunities for residents.
Meanwhile, nearly 25,000 residents in Bacolod, Lanao del Norte are expected to gain improved access to healthcare services through the upgraded primary care facility, which now includes diagnostic equipment such as an X-ray machine.
According to DILG Assistant Secretary Lilian De Leon, the healthcare project would significantly improve access to essential medical services for the community.
More than 2,000 residents of Barangay Aluling in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur are also expected to benefit from the newly established barangay health station, which aims to provide faster and more accessible frontline healthcare.
Indian Ambassador Harsh Kumar Jain said the initiative reflects the growing partnership between India and the Philippines.
The DILG said additional India-funded Quick Impact Projects are expected to be inaugurated in other parts of the country in the coming months.