“Our Project LAWA and BINHI, through being one of the youngest initiatives of our agency, has made significant strides in ensuring food and water security amid crises such as the El Niño and La Niña,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, the DSWD’s spokesperson, said.

The Project LAWA and BINHI aims to build climate and disaster-resilient communities by assisting them in the construction of water reservoirs and gardening projects to meet the challenges of the dry spell and the rainy season.

Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the agency’s various field offices (FOs) are starting the year strong with preparation activities, coordination meetings, monitoring and field visits to ensure that the already established sub-projects under the initiative continue to benefit communities.

“For 2025, we are planning to reach 134,787 partner-beneficiaries from the target communities. We are holding simultaneous meetings with our local government units (LGUs) to seal the much-needed collaboration aligned with our goals,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

Since the project’s launch in 2023, a total of 1,932 LAWA sites or water reservoirs were able to cater to more than 7,234 hectares of agricultural land by providing irrigation and water support to target communities.

A total of 4,317 BINHI sites or gardening projects were also established in the same period,  yielding 21,024,130 kilos of produce that helped feed more than 876,200 individuals.

The expansion is a counter-approach to the ballooning number of municipalities and cities that have been projected to experience El Niño and La Niña. This is based on the climate outlook of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) for 2025.

Despite the looming challenge posted by PAG-ASA, Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the agency is ready to tap interventions under the twin-projects, citing the positive feedback of partner-beneficiaries as proof of its efficiency.

Rodrigo Genebraldo, from Negros Occidental, is one of the beneficiaries who was very thankful of the opportunities brought by the Project LAWA and BINHI to their community.

Rodrigo is the Chairman of the Taulo Ato Agrarian Reform Cooperative (TAARC), which is now reaping the success of their newly-rehabilitated small farm reservoirs in Barangay Pinapugasan in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

The association will soon harvest their tilapias which is set to benefit 100 partner-beneficiaries who have been engaged in the rehabilitation, maintenance, and day-to-day activities in the water farm reservoir.

“This was made possible through the cooperation of its members and support of the DSWD Field Office 6 -Western Visayas,” Rodrigo said in his testimony shared over the official Facebook page of the DSWD Western Visayas regional office.

Launched under the leadership of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the Project LAWA and BINHI is designed to maintain agricultural productivity during dry periods and to manage excess water during periods of heavy rainfall associated with the La Niña.

The Project LAWA and BINHI also contributes to raising awareness on climate change and ways to mitigate its adverse impact among communities, particularly through its Cash-for-Training/Work (CFT/W) inclusive of training on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and practical skills gardening and water harvesting. (LSJ)