BOTOLAN, Zambales — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Botolan Field Office introduced the Sustainable Development Goals-Family-based Actions for Children and their Environs Project (SDG-FACEs) project to stakeholders and implementers here in preparation for its launch in the municipality this year.

Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Shieralyn B. Esteban introduced the project in coordination with the project implementation team for Botolan on March 10, 2022 at the Sangguniang Bayan session hall.

SDG-FACEs is a project of the Local Government Academy, the training arm of the DILG, which is in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SDG is also known as the Global Goals, which were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Aside during the meeting, the DILG and project team provided an orientation on the program, identified the SDG- FACEs activity work plan, and set criteria setting, and profiling in selecting the barangay beneficiary.

MLGOO Esteban also discussed the indicators that would help identify the priority barangay beneficiary among the identified five pilot End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) barangays in the municipality.

The said meeting was attended by Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Edwina C. Sibug, Municipal Health Officer Ureka D. Mariano, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Melanie D. Baysa, and Gina Rosendo of the Department of Education, Carmelita D. Galac of the Municipal Agriculture Office, Poonbato Punong Barangay Garry R. Guevarra, Villar Punong Barangay Ernie Juliano, Cabatuan Punong Barangay Edilberto Fronda, Maguisguis Punong Barangay Paquito Famularcano, and Kagawad Manolito Castillo of Barangay Nacolcol.

SDG-FACEs focuses on communities in developing methods and strategies in addressing poverty, through a participatory or grassroots approach, with family heads taking the lead in reaching the goals as they are tasked to monitor progress of their child—the center of the project. — Shieralyn B. Esteban

Figure 1 and 2: MLGOO Esteban provides the overview of the SDG FACES program among the stakeholders