In line with efforts to address the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to officially launch the Project LAWA at BINHI or Local Adaptation to Water Access and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished through cash-for-training and -work on Thursday (February 22) in Doña Remedios Trinidad town in Bulacan province.

The project aims to strengthen the adaptive capabilities of the impoverished and vulnerable families in addressing the challenges during periods of severe drought conditions.

It specifically focuses on mitigating the impact of food insecurity and water scarcity brought about by the El Niño.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will pave the way towards a stronger partnership of the DSWD, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the United Nations World Food Programme (UN-WFP) in implementing and monitoring Project LAWA at BINHI in selected localities affected by El Niño around the country.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, in his message delivered by Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Diana Rose Cajipe, said the implementation of Project LAWA at BINHI is in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 of the Marcos Administration.

The DSWD chief said the new sealed partnership will ensure that vulnerable sectors will be prioritized during period of water scarcity.

“Ang Memorandum of Understanding na ating pinirmahan ay sumisimbolo sa ating pagkakaisa sa pamamahagi ng social protection services sa tunay na mga nangangailangan nating mga kababayan, lalong lalo na sa mga katutubo, magsasaka, mangingisda, at iba pang sektor na posibleng maapektuhan ng panahon ng tagtuyot,” the DSWD Secretary said in his message.

(The Memorandum of Understanding that we have signed symbolizes our unity in the distribution of social protection services to our fellow citizens in need, especially to indigenous peoples, farmers, fishermen, and other sectors who may be affected by drought conditions.)

Projects Lawa and Binhi will be implemented in around 300 cities and municipalities in 58 provinces around the country.

A total of 10 Project LAWA at BINHI projects are expected to be conducted in each of the target localities with 50 partner-beneficiaries who will participate in cash-for-training (CFT) and cash-for-work (CFW), under the DSWD’s Risk Resiliency Program (RRP). #