In Sta. Teresita town in Cagayan province, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s ( DSWD ) Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) is not only helping the townsfolk mitigate the effects of climate change but also in reviving ecotourism and local livelihood. Sta.
Teresita is a town rich in resources for ecotourism and agriculture. However, due to the effects of climate change that causes extreme weather conditions, community members experience significant losses in their livelihood. “Project LAWA and BINHI is an initiative that provides an opportunity to strengthen the government’s efforts to develop the resilience and improve the ability of vulnerable communities to handle both immediate and long-term risks through Cash-for-Training and Work activities,” Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) for Disaster Response Management Isabel Lanada said.
SAS Lanada explained Project LAWA and BINHI aims to create climate and disaster-resilient communities for sustainable development through the construction of water reservoirs to help farmers and villagers meet the challenges of the dry spell and the rainy season. Under the program, a 20-day learning development and temporary employment activity was conducted from May 24 to June 21 in Barangay Luga to establish a 3,000-cubic-meter small farm reservoir. The water harvesting facility supports 50,000 square meters of agricultura.