Over 1,700 indigents in Nueva Ecija have been employed for 10 days under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) program that helps communities address the effect of climate change.

Under the DSWD’s Risk Resiliency Program-Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Disaster Risk Reduction (RRP-CCAM DRR), the beneficiaries were given temporary employment through the cash-for-work scheme.

DSWD-Region 3 (Central Luzon) director Marites Maristela said on Friday the RRP-CCAM DRR program focuses on empowering communities to become disaster-resilient by combating the effects of climate change.

Maristela said the program is implemented through projects anchored on the climate change action plan of the local government units.

Among the projects being supported by the DSWD anchored on the climate change action plan of the LGUs include plastic bottle recycling, mangrove reforestation, communal gardening, river banks rehabilitation, among others.

A total of 1,717 individuals from the towns of Jaen, Lupao, Nampicuan, Zaragoza, Llanera, Gen. Mamerto Natividad, and Pantabangan received PHP4,200 each as compensation for their 10-day work for a total of over PHP7.2 million.

“Ang kanilang natanggap ay mula sa mga proyektong communal and backyard gardening ( What they received is from the communal and backyard gardening projects),” she said in social media post.

Aside from the payout, Maristela said the knowledge and skills of the beneficiaries on how to deal with the threats of climate change were also enhanced.

“The main goal of the program is to enhance the capabilities of each individual and encourage the community to unite to effectively combat climate change,” she added. (PNA)