The Philippines is confronted with an urgent and critical situation owing to the global climate crisis. The nation exhibits a high degree of vulnerability to the detrimental effects of climate change, necessitating prompt and decisive interventions. Such actions are imperative to protect the Filipino people and ensure a sustainable future for subsequent generations.
Several initiatives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr are underway to combat the ill effects of climate change. One is a program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) called Project Local Adaptation to Water Access (LAWA) and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished (BINHI). A sustainable solution to combat hunger, and decrease economic vulnerability of the communities by addressing water scarcity and food insecurity exacerbated by climate change and disasters.
In line with President Marcos’ efforts to address the effects of the El Niño phenomenon and to mitigate the effects of erratic climate through Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation-Disaster Risk Reduction (CCAM-DRR) of the Cabinet Cluster, the DSWD recalibrated their Program, Activities and Projects (PAPs) of Risk Resiliency Program through Cash for Training and Work in the Government’s vision for effective prevention, adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction measures in priority target areas exposed to the effects of El Nino and La Nina based on the Climate outlook of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA).
The program, launched last year in nine (9) municipalities across Regions CAR, VI, and XI, has already made progress. Out of its target of 310 municipalities, it has reached 61 provinces and 306 municipalities and towns, serving 140,906 partner beneficiaries.
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian was delighted when President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recognized their agency’s Project LAWA at BINHI in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.
“Our small idea is now a SONA program. This means Project LAWA at BINHI will have an upgrade, including internal measurement outcomes,” Secretary Gatchalian said after the SONA of President Marcos.
“Mainam na rin na nailunsad nang maaga ang mga modernong paraan ng pagtatanim. Sa ating nasimulan na Proyektong LAWA at BINHI, isinasagawa na ang mga modernong imbakan ng tubig upang lalong maging handa at protektado ang ating mga magsasaka sa banta ng tagtuyot,” the President said in his speech.
The program addresses social protection issues while strengthening community and family resilience, adaptive capacity, and response capabilities of poor, vulnerable and marginalized especially the indigenous peoples, farmers, fisherfolks and women from the impact of climate-related hazards and disaster risks anchored in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, Chapter 15- Climate Resiliency as well as the administration’s priority agenda- “Walang Gutom 2027”.
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and President Marcos lauded Project LAWA and BINHI “ for its invaluable contribution to climate resilience initiatives.” The citation was posted by UN Assistant Secretary-General Reena Ghelani last October 8, 2024. She mentioned that the Project LAWA and BINHI is “one of the best practices in response to the prevalent issues related to climate crisis and El Niño”.
Enhancing Capacity Towards Resiliency
The core components of the project LAWA at BINHI are Cash-for-Training and Cash-for-Work (CFTW), which empower communities and help them build resilience.
The Cash-for-Training (CFT) helps the beneficiaries build their capacity by giving them the knowledge, skills, and attitude to respond appropriately to the effects of climate change.
Some of the training includes drought-resistant farming techniques, flood mitigation, and other critical skills for adapting to the new climate. The Cash-for-Work (CFW) program allows beneficiaries to earn money while working on community-based disaster mitigation and prevention projects.
These projects as per President Marcos’ foresight involve the construction of small–farm reservoirs (SFRs), organic planting of disaster-resilient crops, planting climate-resilient fruit-bearing trees, rehabilitating watersheds and waterways, or repairing infrastructure to cushion the impacts of climate change.
To date, 139,335 partner-beneficiaries have completed their training and work assignments under the program. There are 1,842 SFRs constructed across 61 provinces and 306 municipalities and cities, with an average of 30 SFRs per province.
These reservoirs, with a combined storage capacity of 1,959,524 cubic meters of water, have irrigated 7,238,690 square meters of agricultural land, significantly increasing agricultural productivity.
These water infrastructure programs are complemented by 4,332 BINHI sites or food security communal vegetable farms throughout the country.
These communal farms cover 10,953 hectares and have harvested 16,771,767 diverse vegetables, disaster-resilient crops, and fruit-bearing trees. The total yield of produce has reached 21,024,187 kilograms of vegetables and root crops. The partner beneficiaries and their families harvest, consume, and enjoy these.
The program also contributes to a sense of community ownership and collective action in combating climate change, and it helps increase agricultural production.
Commitment to supporting communities
The DSWD has targeted 140,906 partner-beneficiaries in 310 cities and municipalities with a budget of P1.421 billion in 2024.
Up to date, January 18, 2024, the DSWD has reported that they have already distributed cash-for-training and cash-for-work that helped 140,906 partner-beneficiaries (1,571 Partner-beneficiaries scheduled for payout in the same month). Of this number, 139,335 partner-beneficiaries underwent training and work assignments and completed the pay-outs.
As of December 2024, some Project LAWA at BINHI fisherfolk partner-beneficiaries have reaped 96 kilograms of tilapia worth P19,200.00 in their community farm reservoir.
The fisherfolk sold the harvested tilapia at P200 per kilo to local resorts and restaurants in San Juan, Siquijor.
“The earnings from the tilapia farm can now support the needs of my family,” said Mercy Ogoc, one of the fisherfolk from Barangay Tag-Ibo, Siquijor.
“Ang akong nabahin akong napalit ug pagkaon sa among binuhi na baboy ug nakapamalit mi ug grocery para sa among pangunahanglan sa balay.” (My share was used to buy food for the pigs I was raising and we also bought groceries for our household needs.)
In October 2024 alone, partner-beneficiary Enrique Villanueva raised P61,506.00 worth of food crops from the community gardens in Barangay Olave and Barangay Parian.
The project produced 683 kilos of high-value food crops in Barangay Olave, worth P34,393.00, and 476 kilos in Barangay Parian, worth P29,113.00.
Okra, eggplant, ampalaya, string beans and squash are among the crops sold by the partner beneficiaries to neighboring communities and barangays.
The beneficiaries of Project LAWA in Mandaue City gained valuable experience during the 20-day implementation of the project at BINHI under the DSWD’s Risk Resilience Program. Around 60 kg of different vegetable varieties were harvested on a 1,500 sq m land area. All the harvests were sold in the Kadiwa stall near Mandaue City Hall for P15,200.00. Some of the partner-beneficiaries also sold their vegetables at the Mandaue City Public Market, which is also near Mandaue City Hall.
According to Lorena Soco, a partner-beneficiary from Barangay Casili, they don’t only consume from the harvest, but they also earn money by selling it. Soco added, “That way, they increase their income and can meet their daily basic needs.”
The good news is that the DSWD has announced that Project LAWA at BINHI will expand its reach from 310 cities and municipalities in 61 provinces for 2024 to 405 cities and municipalities in 72 provinces by 2025.
Incorporating Innovation and Technology towards Sustainability
To ensure project sustainability, the project uses innovative farming methods, applies indigenous knowledge and technology, and incorporates research-based BINHI products and agricultural inputs that can easily adapt to climate change conditions.
Future developments will be establishing market linkages and promoting agri-tourism as a potential income-generating activity that will further support the economic sustainability of the project, – in line with President Marcos’ perspective. In addition, institutionalizing LAWA at BINHI project through the passage of local resolutions and ordinances that guarantee its sustainability beyond the initial implementation.
The whole of society approach, in line with President Marcos’ effort and vision, will strengthen collaborative efforts where LGUs and communities play a vital role in its success while enabling the replication of effective practices in other regions, ensuring the project model’s consistency and scalability nationwide.
The success of LAWA at BINHI shows the commitment of the DSWD, aligns with President Marcos’ achievement, in engaging communities to adapt to climate change challenges and achieve food security. Its immediate relief program helps vulnerable populations grow roots for a better, climate resilient and more food-secure and sustainable future. (PIA)
