San luis: Residents in Barangay San Isidro, San Luis, Pampanga have converted a 7,000-square-meter land into a community garden and rehabilitated a nearby riverbank with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to boost their food security and their disaster resilience.
According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian inspected the site on Wednesday and observed how the community is benefitting from the agency's Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) at BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished). Launched in 2023, the DSWD initiative aims to ensure agricultural productivity during adverse weather conditions.
Under the BINHI component, the community garden in Barangay San Isidro was cultivated by 150 partner-beneficiaries, including local farmers, senior citizens, and solo parents. Each beneficiary received PHP10,000 for 20 days of labor and training. Besides cash for work, the beneficiaries now have access to a farm for food sustenance, crucial during calamities.
The surplus harvests are sold in Metro Manila and local markets, enhancing the beneficiaries' livelihoods. The community garden is also a supplier for supplementary feeding programs led by DSWD's Field Office 3-Central Luzon.
Gatchalian shared that some beneficiaries used their earnings to start small businesses like selling frozen meat and school supplies. The program also involved rehabilitating a nearby riverbank, transforming it into a clean and productive area with abundant kangkong harvests.
Beyond the initial project phase, the community garden and riverbank thrive under the beneficiaries' care, who now manage the resources. The DSWD collaborated with the Department of Agriculture, which provided seedlings and fingerlings for the initiative.
Project LAWA at BINHI has raised awareness on climate change and disaster risk reduction, offering training in gardening, water harvesting, and climate adaptation. Gatchalian was accompanied by Pampanga Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, Pampanga 4th District Rep. Anna York Cristina Bondoc-Sagum, 4th District Board Member Kaye Naguit, and San Luis Mayor Jayson Sagum.
