Negrense farmer-beneficiaries of projects LAWA and BINHI of the Department of Social Welfare and Development started helping in climate adaptation measures, through vegetation and establishing water reservoirs.
In Escalante City, 100 partner-beneficiaries of Project Local Adaptation to Water Access (LAWA) and of Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished (BINHI) cultivated approximately 2,000 square meters for vegetable gardens, 20,000 square meters for cornfields, and 1,000 square meters for rice production.
Similarly, 653 partner-beneficiaries in Calatrava are building 10 small farm reservoirs in barangays Minapasuk, Laga-an, Marcelo, and Hilub-ang to enhance water sufficiency and food security.
Projects LAWA and BINHI, initiated by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, aim to strengthen the adaptive capabilities of poor and vulnerable families during severe drought, and at the same time, mitigate food insecurity and water scarcity caused by the El Niño phenomenon through sustainable development programs.
The DSWD Field Office VI continuously monitors the implementation of this project to ensure sufficient and healthy foods for the community, and provide livelihood for farmer partner-beneficiaries, its press release said.
The DSWD-Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Negros Occidental, meanwhile, initiated a forum for partner-implementers recently.
It was aimed at establishing long-term relationships that can benefit the SLP associations, foster creativity and innovation in project implementation, reduce project risks, and ensure the smooth and quality implementation process.
Present during the activity were SLP regional program coordinator Juliet Besa and SLP special concerns focal Cherry Ann Regacho, BIR revenue officer II Laika Cabuguas, Cooperative Development Authority specialist II Sandra Siaton, Department of Trade and Industry La Castellana business counselor Ferly Mae Espeso, State University of Northern Negros (SUNN) extension director Dr. Vanessa Cayasay, Technology and Livelihood Development Center (TLDC) representative Caroline Alejo, and SinoPhil Commercial Corporation president Engr. Kyle Lorca, among others. ||
