Balungao: A total of 200 residents from the town of Balungao in Pangasinan have embarked on constructing a small farm reservoir, a nursery, and a vegetable garden. This initiative is a significant step in Phase 2 of Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access), implemented under BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
According to Philippines News Agency, the program is designed to assist communities in adapting to climate change through Cash-for-Training (CFT) and Cash-for-Work (CFW) schemes. The DSWD 1 (Ilocos Region) briefer highlighted that participants undergo a five-day training as part of the CFT and engage in 15 days of work under the CFW. These efforts aim to secure water or food resources, particularly during the dry season, while also providing temporary income for the participants.
The CFW offers a daily wage of PHP468 for a duration of 20 days, amounting to a total of PHP9,360. This year, the initiative has expanded to include 7,350 beneficiaries from 30 localities across the region. The program prioritizes individuals in areas vulnerable to climate impacts, characterized by high socio-economic needs and poverty incidence.
The beneficiaries, selected by the Local Social Welfare and Development Office, consist of fisherfolk, farmers, indigenous people, and indigents, along with persons with disabilities and individuals involved in informal sectors.
