In a significant move to combat food insecurity and water scarcity, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has launched the Project Local Adaptation to Water Access and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest (LAWA at BINHI) in the Bicol region. This initiative, set to benefit more than 8,900 residents, was discussed at a recent meeting held at the National Irrigation Administration office in Naga City.
DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio announced that the project, with a budget of over PHP70.3 million for 2025, will commence this month following a social preparation phase. The program targets residents from 33 cities and towns across Bicol, identified as part of the vulnerable sector. These areas include Bagamanoc, Caramoran, Gigmoto, Pandan, and Viga in Catanduanes; Balud, Claveria, Monreal, Pio V. Corpuz, Milagros, San Fernando, Mobo, and San Jacinto in Masbate; Casiguran, Castilla, Donsol, Pilar, and Sta. Magdalena in Sorsogon; Ligao, Tabaco, Legazpi, Libon, and Daraga in Albay; Libmanan, Buhi, Naga City, Calabanga, and Tinambac in Camarines Sur; and Labo, Jose Panganiban, Paracale, Mercedes, and Daet in Camarines Norte.
The LAWA at BINHI project aims to enhance the adaptive capabilities of vulnerable families during calamities, addressing the challenges posed by weather phenomena like El Niño and La Niña. It seeks to reduce hunger and poverty while increasing community resilience against disasters and climate change. Beneficiaries will participate in cash-for-training and cash-for-work programs, focusing on activities that address water needs and food insecurity.
The initiative will involve collaboration with various government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the National Irrigation Administration, and the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD program. These agencies will provide technical assistance, farm inputs, and support for water efficiency initiatives and site validation.