DSWD to launch project to prepare vulnerable sectors for El Niño
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), will launch the pilot implementation of cash-for-training and cash-for–work through Project Local Adaptation to Water Access (LAWA) in Monkayo, Davao de Oro on Thursday, Aug. 31.
Project LAWA focuses on local adaptation to El Niño-related water access interventions, which is consistent with the DWSD’s mandate of providing targeted assistance to communities affected by drought and water scarcity.
“By helping communities adapt to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon and improve their access to water, this project would contribute to DSWD’s broader goal of promoting social protection and building the resilience of vulnerable communities,” DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said.
Project LAWA aims to provide additional income support for poor, vulnerable, and marginalized indigenous peoples (IPs), farmers, and fisherfolk, as well as build community physical assets, particularly water pond, that are vital for the community’s economic activities.
It also seeks to strengthen partnership with the provincial governments in order to address socio-environmental resilience gaps.
The project will be implemented through the active support of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the United Nations-World Food Programme (UN-WFP).
The ceremonial launching will be led by DSWD-DRMG Undersecretary Diane Rose S. Cajipe, Disaster Response and Management Director Michael Cristopher R. Mathay, and DSWD-Field Office 10 Regional Director Vanessa B. Goc-ong.
It will also be attended by UN-WFP Country Director Brenda Barton, DA Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban, Davao de Oro Gov. Dorothy Montejo Gonzaga, and Davao De Oro Vice Gov. Jayvee Tyron L. Uy.