Nearly 2,000 beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) have received over PHP15.5 million for taking part in the agency’s water and food security projects.

In an interview on Wednesday, Claudio Villarreal, DSWD-5 Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD) head, said beneficiaries were tapped for the Project Local Adaptation to Water Access (LAWA) and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest (BINHI).

The beneficiaries come from various towns, including Claveria, Masbate (500 beneficiaries, PHP 3.95 million), Pio V. Corpuz, Masbate (495 beneficiaries, PHP 3.9 million), Casiguran, Sorsogon (293 beneficiaries, PHP 2.3 million), Donsol, Sorsogon (399 beneficiaries, PHP 3.1 million); Pilar, Sorsogon (200 beneficiaries, PHP 1.5 million); and Libmanan, Camarines Sur (100 beneficiaries, PHP790,000.

“Each partner beneficiary received PHP7,900.00 for participating in the 20-day implementation of the program. This payout serves as additional income and financial support for the families,” the DSWD official said.

People tapped for the program created artificial water sources and established plantations for cultivating food-producing plants.

“All areas have small farm reservoirs stocked with tilapia fingerlings, and each location features gardens planted with disaster-resilient crops. For harvesting, each group has its management system; some produce were collected and sold to create a fund for the group, while other produce were shared among members,” Villareal said.

Villareal added that ongoing payouts are being conducted in Sta. Magdalena for 400 partner beneficiaries and additional payouts are scheduled for next week in Bagamanoc, Catanduanes. (PNA)