Residents in far-flung Union and Mahayahay villages in Lingig, Surigao del Sur are experiencing the positive impacts of the Local Adaptation to Water Access and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest (Project LAWA at BINHI) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

In a statement on Tuesday, DSWD-13 (Caraga Region) said 423 beneficiaries have received PHP7,500 each from the 20-day community service they rendered under the program.

“The Project LAWA at BINHI is an initiative which seeks to address two pressing issues faced by the community: water scarcity and food insecurity,” DSWD-13 said.

Jovelyn, 32, a mother of three, was among the beneficiaries from Barangay Mahayahay who received her salary on Monday.

“I was one of the participants during the start of the training under this project last May 15. After the training, I was part of the group in rehabilitating water resources in our area and tending our abaca and vegetables,” Jovelyn said in a phone interview.

She noted that LAWA at BINHI benefits the village as a whole because it is concerned with maximizing the availability of water resources.

“This could help us, especially during disasters and calamities. Now, we are assured of the availability of food and water resources in times of difficulties,” Jovelyn said.

Another beneficiary, Villarin Pislan, of Barangay Union, said he looks forward to the upcoming harvest his group will reap from the communal farming they engaged in.

“The compensation we receive now is small compared to the upcoming harvest. My group and I promise to nurture and grow this opportunity,” Pislan said, as quoted in the DSWD-13 news release.

Under the water sufficiency program, the projects being implemented are construction of small farm reservoirs, repairs and rehabilitation of water-harvesting facilities, and repairs of multipurpose water infrastructures.

The food security program, on the other hand, will involve developing communal vegetable gardening; engaging in urban gardening and school-based and community-based vegetable gardening and community-based diversified integrated farming; and planting disaster resilient crops, fruit-bearing trees, and mangroves and vermicomposting.

Projects LAWA and BINHI targets 300 cities and municipalities in 58 provinces, with beneficiaries joining cash-for-training and cash-for-work activities under the Risk Resiliency Program of the DSWD. (PNA)