DSWD-10 Regional Director Ramel Jamen talked about the launch of Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) at BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas. The goal of this project is to help poor and vulnerable families better handle the effects of not having enough food and water. (Photo: DCC/PIA-10)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-10 has rolled out another project under its Risk Resiliency Program to boost the adaptive capabilities of impoverished families against food insecurity and water scarcity.
DSWD-10 Regional Director Ramel Jamen said during a recent Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas that aside from the regular cash-for-work program during disasters, DSWD is now implementing Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) at BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished).
He said the project stands as one of the cornerstones of DSWD’s initiative under the Bagong Pilipinas.
Under the project, beneficiaries receive the daily minimum regional wage rate in exchange for their 20-day participation in training and project implementation within their communities.
Jamen elaborated on the project’s objectives, highlighting its specific focus on addressing water scarcity and increasing food supply.
“Kung makadungog ta sa una nga human sa post-disaster incident, adunay gitawag nato sa una nga mangrove tree planting or coastal rehabilitation. Karon mas specific na. Ang gitan-aw nato is duna’y impact. Gusto nato ma-increase ang supply sa tubig. Kung naay sufficient nga tubig, pwede nato ibutang ang fish pen nga pwede pud ang isda mabuhi. Didto pud ang local source sa pagkaon through nutritiouus harvest sa fisherfolk,” he explained.
(Previously, we had mangrove tree planting or coastal rehabilitation after post-disaster incidents. Now it’s more specific. What we are looking at is having an impact. We want to increase the supply of water. If there is enough water available, we can construct a fish pen to house the fish. That can also be the local source of food through the nutritious harvest of the fisherfolk.)
The project has already commenced in Magsaysay, Binuangan, and Claveria in Misamis Oriental, as well as Pantar in Lanao del Norte.
A total of 782 beneficiaries have completed the 20-day Cash for Training and Work (CFTW), for which the payout is set for the last week of June. Another 1,809 beneficiaries are currently undergoing the 20-day CFTW.
Reflecting on the project’s impact, beneficiary Amaliah Abubacar from the municipality of Pantar noted the significant shift from previous communal gardening efforts to the current inclusion of fish ponds, enhancing food diversity and economic stability.
“Napakalaki ng pinagkaiba ng cash-for-work noon at ng ngayon. Noon kay naka-focus lang sa communal gardening. Pero ngayon, maliban sa mayroong ganu’n (communal gardening) ay may fish pond tayo (LAWA) na makakatulong sa amin. May isda na kami, may gulay pa kami. Maliban pa doon aya mayroong trainings kung saan mapagplanohan namin ng maigi kung ano ang gagawin namin sa aming projects,” she said.
(There is a big difference between cash-for-work then and now. Back then, it was only focused on communal gardening. However, in addition to communal gardening, we now have a fish pond (LAWA) available for our use. We have fish, and we also have vegetables. Other than that, there are trainings where we can plan carefully what we will do in our projects.)
Zenaida Diron, a woman from the same municipality, stated that she is responsible for preparing meals for her family. The communal garden they established is a tremendous help to them because it simplifies their nutritious meal preparation, eliminating the need to go to the market.
“Itong communal garden namin ay tiyak na makakabigay tulong din sa amin sa pagbayad ng tuition fee ng aming mga anak,” she added.
(This communal garden is sure to also aid them in paying their children’s tuition fees.)
Ustadh Hasanor Morak commended the project’s alignment with Islamic values, emphasizing its potential to foster environmental stewardship.
“Bilang Ustadh, ang pagpapanatili at pag-aalaga sa ating kapaligiran ay isa sa mga binibigyang halaga ng Islam. Kaya ang masasabi ko, itong programa ay magandang plataporma para maisagawa natin ang pangangalaga ng kapaligiran,” he said.
(As a Ustadh, maintaining and caring for our environment is one of the values emphasized in Islam. So, this program is a good platform for us to do environmental protection.) (APB/PIA-10)
