The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) at BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) has helped over 137,654 beneficiaries from 310 localities across the country for this year alone.
In the message of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, delivered by Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe at the opening ceremonies for the project’s national convention in Pasay City on Monday (December 2), the DSWD chief said the risk resiliency initiative continues to enhance the capabilities of Filipino communities through cash-for-work (CFW) and cash-for-training (CFT) modalities.
“Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Goals, this initiative envisions combating hunger and poverty, as well as responding to the call for climate action by ensuring water sufficiency and sustainable food security through innovative agricultural practices,” Secretary Gatchalian said in his message.
Scheduled for December 2 to 4, the national convention will serve as a platform to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building of Project LAWA at BINHI implementers at the local and national levels.
Secretary Gatchalian’s message also highlighted the accomplishments of the project in 2024.
According to the DSWD chief, a total of 1,842 LAWA facilities were able to irrigate more than 7,234 hectares of agricultural land by providing a viable source of water to communities most affected by drought and climate change.
A total of 4,317 BINHI sites were also established this year which were able to harvest over 21,014,574 kilos of produce that helped feed more than 810,756 families.
The Project LAWA and BINHI is a risk resiliency initiative of the DSWD that aims to build climate and disaster-resilient communities by assisting them to construct water reservoirs to meet the challenges of the dry spell and the rainy season.
Ready-to-eat food
In the same event, the DSWD also launched its newest initiative to ensure food source in disaster-affected areas through the launch of ready-to-eat food (RTEF) packs.
The RTEF contains nutritious pre-cooked meals that will form part of the DSWD’s relief items which will be distributed to affected families within the first 24 to 48 hours of the onset of a disaster. It hopes to fill the critical gap when traditional cooking facilities or utensils are limited or unavailable for the time being.
Each RTEF pack contains five cans of Department of Science and Technology (DOST) nutritionally-analyzed tuna paella; two cans of nutritionally-analyzed chicken pastil and giniling; two packs of Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) arroz caldo; three packs of champorado; two pieces of Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) High Energy Biscuit/Cracker; and one piece of Chocolate Complementary Food.
“I am confident that these projects reinforce the pillars of the Buong Bansa Handa program under the Marcos administration, thereby strengthening our nation’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities, and contributing to a Philippines that is better prepared to withstand and recover from disasters,” the DSWD chief said.
Secretary Gatchalian also pointed out the significant role of local government units (LGUs) for the successful implementation of the RTEF and the Project LAWA at BINHI.
“We encourage local government units to maximize this opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills, and tools to adapt, innovate, collaborate proactively, and operate seamlessly for the successful implementation of both projects,” Secretary Gatchalian emphasized.
High ranking officials and partners who joined the event to give their message of support include DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Pasay City Mayor Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano, National Nutrition Council (NNC) Asst. Secretary Azucena Dayanghirang, United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) Country Director Regis Chapman, and other local chief executives.
The other DSWD officials present in the twin events were DRMG Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) and Concurrent Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) Leo Quintilla, SAS for Special Projects Isabel Lanada, Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) Director Michael Cristopher Mathay, and agency regional directors. # (AKDL)
Tagalog Version
137K nakinabang sa Project Lawa at Binhi ng DSWD ngayong 2024
Higit sa halos 137K benepisyaryo ng Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) at BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang natulungan ng programa ngayong taon mula sa 310 lugar sa bansa.
Sa mensahe ni DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian na ipinarating ni Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe sa ginanap na national convention sa Pasay City nitong Lunes (December 2), ang matatag na inisyatibo ng programa ay magpapatuloy upang mapaganda ang pangkalahatang kabuhayan ng mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng cash-for-work (CFW) at cash-for-training (CFT) modalities.
Sa ipinarating na mensahe ng DSWD Chief, sinabi nitong “Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Goals, this initiative envisions combating hunger and poverty, as well as responding to the call for climate action by ensuring water sufficiency and sustainable food security through innovative agricultural practice.” Secretary Gatchalian.
Ang national convention na sinimulan ngayong araw December 2 hanggang December 4, ay magsisilbing platform upang bigyang daan ang pakikipagtulungan, knowledge sharing, at capacity building ng Project LAWA at BINHI implementers sa local at national levels.
Ayon sa Kalihim, may kabuuang bilang na 1,842 LAWA facilities ang nagkaroon ng irigasyon sa may 7,234 hectares ng agricultural land sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng mapagkukunan ng tubig na maaaring magamit sa mga lugar na lubhang naapektuhan ng tagtuyot at nagbabagong klima o climate change.
May bilang na 4,317 BINHI sites ang naitayo ngayong taon kung saan nakapagtala din ng ani na mahigit sa 21,014,574 kilos ng pananim at natulungan ang 810,756 families.
Sa nasabi ring event, inilunsad ng ahensya ang pinakabago nitong inisyatibo na magtitiyak para sa food security sa panahon ng kalamidad sa pamamagitan ng ready-to-eat food (RTEF) packs.
Ang RTEF ay nagtataglay ng masustansyang pagkain at pre-cooked meals na isasama na ng DSWD sa pamimigay ng relief items sa panahon ng kalamidad.
Ang bawat RTEF pack ay naglalaman ng limang lata ng nutritionally-analyzed tuna paella; dalawang lata ng nutritionally-analyzed chicken pastil at giniling; dalawang pakete ng Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) arroz caldo; tatlong pakete ng champorado; dalawang piraso ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) High Energy Biscuit/Cracker; at isang piraso ng Chocolate Complementary Food.
“I am confident that these projects reinforce the pillars of the Buong Bansa Handa program under the Marcos administration, thereby strengthening our nation’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities, and contributing to a Philippines that is better prepared to withstand and recover from disasters,” sabi pa ng DSWD chief.
Dagdag pa ng Kalihim, “We encourage local government units to maximize this opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills, and tools to adapt, innovate, collaborate proactively, and operate seamlessly for the successful implementation of both projects.”
Kabilang sa mga dumalo sa nasabing event sina DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Pasay City Mayor Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano, National Nutrition Council (NNC) Asst. Secretary Azucena Dayanghirang, United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) Country Director Regis Chapman, at mga local chief executives.
Dumalo din ang mga DSWD officials na sina DRMG Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) and Concurrent Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) Leo Quintilla, SAS for Special Projects Isabel Lanada, Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) Director Michael Cristopher Mathay, at mga agency regional directors. # (MVC)
