The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday launched the pilot implementation of the Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access), a cash-for-training and —work program that aims to sustain economic activities and assist the marginalized especially during the onslaught of El Nino.
DSWD Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group Diana Rose Cajipe, DA field operations division chief Marie Ann Constantino and WFP Country Director Dipayan Bhattacharya signed a memorandum of understanding to kick off the pilot implementation of Project LAWA in Monkayo in Davao de Oro.
Project LAWA aims to provide additional income in support of poor, vulnerable, and marginalized families of Indigenous Peoples (IPs), farmers, and fisherfolk as well as mitigate the effects of drought and dry spells through the construction of small farm reservoirs and water ponds during the El Nino period.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesman Rommel Lopez said the project will also help ensure the resiliency of poor communities and those that would be affected by the 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,” Lopez said.
The full impact of the El Niño is expected towards the end of the year to early 2024.
