DAVAO CITY – A Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 12 (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City or Soccskargen area) community-based intervention to assist vulnerable communities in rural areas is in full swing.
THE Project Lawa water reservoir in Malapatan, Sarangani. (DSWD DRMD-Region 12)
As part of the government’s efforts to combat hunger amid the impact of climate change and natural disasters, the Project Local Adaptation to Water Access and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest or Lawa at Binhi was launched to strengthen the capabilities of the poor and vulnerable families during severe drought under the DSWD’s Risk Resiliency Program (RRP) through cash-for-training and cash-for-work (CFTW).
DSWD-Region 12 Director Loreto Cabaya Jr. said that the project is a proactive intervention and sustainable solution to combat hunger, alleviate poverty, and decrease economic vulnerability.
Cabaya said the project seeks to address food insecurity and water scarcity aggravated by the adverse impact of climate change and natural disasters.
Among the interventions under the water sufficiency program are the construction of small farm reservoirs, repairs and rehabilitation of water-harvesting facilities, and repairs of multi-purpose water infrastructures.
Beneficiaries under the food security program are expected to develop communal vegetable gardening, engage in urban gardening and school-based and community-based vegetable gardening and community-based diversified integrated farming, plant disaster resilient crops, fruit-bearing trees, and mangroves, and vermicomposting.
Cabaya said water reservoirs built through a cash-for-work program will also serve as the sources of water for the community gardens. “It also serves as a fishpond of the community,” he added.
In Region 12, the project is expected to benefit at least 8,000 people across the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani.
The project started in the third week of April.
Recently, the project implementation kicked-off in Carmen, North Cotabato with a comprehensive three-day cash-for-training session. According to the local government of Carmen, the project will be implemented in 21 barangays.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) recently conducted a site visit and monitoring exercise in several project sites in Malapatan, Sarangani, and Colombio, Sultan Kudarat.
DSWD Disaster Response Management Division-Region 12 chief Naira Aratuc accompanied WFP Philippines Head of Emergency Preparedness and Response, Hannes Goegele; WFP Agronomist Matteo Vailati, and Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer Krystian Harold Javier in evaluating ongoing initiatives and explore avenues for enhancing community resilience.