DSWD allots P1.4-B budget for El Niño projects
By JISELLE ANNE C. CASUCIAN, GMA Integrated News Published February 29, 2024 8:48pm The Department of Social Welfare and Development, on Thursday, announced that over P1.4 billion has been allotted to fund projects to counter the effects of the El Niño phenomenon. In a statement, the agency said that they have prepared initiatives such as […]
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By JISELLE ANNE C. CASUCIAN, GMA Integrated News
The Department of Social Welfare and Development, on Thursday, announced that over P1.4 billion has been allotted to fund projects to counter the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.
In a statement, the agency said that they have prepared initiatives such as Local Adaptation to Water Access (Project LAWA) and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished (Project BINHI) to fight hunger, poverty and economic vulnerability that may occur due to what is predicted to be hotter climate conditions.
“Nakita natin na hindi lamang tubig ang kailangan ng tao. Kailangan din nila ng pagkain. Ang mandato ng DSWD ay poverty alleviation, hunger mitigation. Focused kami sa food security kaya nabuo ang Project Binhi,” said Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) for Special Projects Maria Isabel Lanada.
(We have seen people not only need water but also food. The mandate of the DSWD is poverty alleviation and hunger mitigation. We are focused on food security and this is why Project BINHI came to be.)
“’Yong Project LAWA ay nagkaroon na tayo ng pilot implementation last year. Ito ay ginawa sa Davao de Oro sa Mindanao, Ifugao sa Luzon, at Antique sa Visayas. Ito ay angkop na pamamaraan o teknolohiya upang magkaroon ng water availability sa mga communities,” she added.
(For Project LAWA we already had pilot implementation last year. This took place in Davao de Oro in Mindanao, Ifugao in Luzon, and Antique in the Visayas. This is an appropriate technology to have water availability in communities.)
Landa added the project will benefit families of farmers, fishermen, indigenous people and other climate- and disaster-vulnerable endeavors.
Beneficiaries will be able to participate in a 10- to 25-day cash for training and work programs with corresponding daily wages.
Participants will be tasked to aid in the construction and repair of water reservoirs and harvesting facilities, as well as gardening activities for food security.
Project LAWA and BINHI will be implemented in 249 cities and municipalities. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News
