CITY OF MALOLOS — In aim to address the effects of El Niño phenomenon to impoverished and vulnerable sectors in the community, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Municipal Government of Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT) and Ceremonial Launching of Project Local Adaptation to Water Access (LAWA) at Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished (BINHI) was held at Brgy. Kalawakan in DRT, Bulacan recently.
The said joint project is under Risk Resiliency Program Through Cash-For-Training and Work and it covers El Niño affected provinces based on the DOST-PAGASA Climate Outlook as of November and December 2023; provinces and selected local government units implementing RRP-CFTW and top five LGUs with the highest percentage of poor listed under Listahanan 3.
Project LAWA at BINHI is seen as a proactive intervention and sustainable solution that will help address food security and water scarcity exacerbated by climate change and disasters.
Apart from DRT, Project LAWA at BINHI will also be introduced to other towns in Bulacan including Bocaue, Norzagaray, San Ildefonso, Santa Maria, Pandi and Plaridel.
In his message delivered by his representative DSWD Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe, Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that the sealed partnership ensures that vulnerable sectors will be prioritized during period of water scarcity.
“The Memorandum of Understanding that we have signed symbolizes our unity in the distribution of social protection services to our fellow citizens in need, especially to indigenous people, farmers, fishermen, and other sectors who may be affected by drought conditions,” the DSWD sec said.
He added that the services under the said program is in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Meanwhile, Gov. Daniel R. Fernando said in his message read by his Chief of Staff Atty. Nikki Manuel S. Coronel that the launching of Project LAWA at BINHI was a pivotal component in the formation of a safe, abundant and inclusive country.
“Sa pinagsama-samang pwersa ng Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Local Government, UN World Food Program, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan, Pamahalaang Bayan ng DRT at Sangguniang Brgy. ng Kalawakan, tayo ngayon ay bubuo ng matatag na pundasyon at mag-iimbak ng nag-uumapaw na pag-asa na siyang magiging daluyan ng biyaya para sa ating lahat,” Fernando said.
Also present during the event were DRT Mayor Ronaldo Flores represented by his Municipal Administrator Engr. Emilson Dela Cruz, Assistant Regional Director Arthur Dayrit of DA, Maria Christine De Leon of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Central Luzon, Deputy Country Director Dipayan Bhattacharyya of the Philippines, UN WFP, Cong. Lorna Silverio, Board Member Liberato Sembrano, Norzagaray Mayor Ma. Elena Germar, Director Reynaldo Dingal of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), IPMR Councilor Emelita Evangelista, Florinio Saplala, representative of Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro, and Assistant Secretary for Community Engagement Ulysses Hermogenes Casimiro Aguilar, Regional Director Venus Rebuldela and Special Assistant to the Secretary for Special Projects Maria Isabel B. Lanada of DSWD. (UnliNews Online)
