The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday gave assurance of sustainable water supply for three El Niño-prone provinces through Project LAWA.
For the provinces of Ifugao in Luzon, Antique in the Visayas, and Davao de Oro in Mindanao, coping with the possible effects of the El Nino phenomenon may be one less worry as they start the year 2024.
This, after the three areas, which are the pilot provinces of the Project LAWA or Local Adaptation to Water Access of the DSWD, have completed the construction of their own small farm reservoirs.
The reservoirs would ensure these provinces with sufficient water supply for their continuous production of agriculture, farming and fishery products despite the effects of the looming drought in the country, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.
Specific beneficiaries of the Project LAWA are the residents of the municipalities of Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista and Hungduan in Ifugao; Sebaste, Barbaza and Sibalom in Antique, and Laak, Monkayo and Compostela in Davao de Oro.
The strategic locations were particularly targeted based on the severity of the expected impact of El Niño in these areas.
Gatchalian said the cash-for-work and cash-for-training components of Project LAWA have paved the way for the construction of the reservoirs.
“The local residents themselves were engaged in Project LAWA and they helped in building these water reservoirs that will benefit their respective communities amid the possible impacts of a dry spell on their livelihood,” he said.
“The Project LAWA aims to assist and protect poor and vulnerable communities from the impacts of the slow onset of the El Niño phenomenon by giving them sustainable water sources and additional income support,” he added.
Project LAWA’s framework focused on the construction of small farm reservoirs strategically placed in selected towns for 15 days and constructed within a 20 by 25-square meter area with a maximum depth of 50 feet.
“These reservoirs are intended to serve as vital water sources for communities during periods of drought or dry spells. Aside from an alternative water source, it can also serve as ponds to breed and raise fish and irrigation for their agricultural products,” Gatchalian stressed.
More than providing a sustainable source of water supply, Project LAWA is one of the agency’s food security measures to achieve the goal of “walang gutom na pamilyang Pilipino”(no Filipino family will experience hunger) especially those coming from the Indigenous Peoples, farmers, fisherfolk, and women sectors, by making them productive.
“With the availability of sustainable water supply through the SFRs, communities are able to plant more fruit bearing trees, disaster resilient crops and vegetable, as well as implement aquaponics and aquaculture activities for their proper nourishments,” Gatchalian raised.
With the success of the pilot implementation, the DSWD chief said Project LAWA will be rolled out nationwide next year.
“We thank our partners like the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the World Food Programme (WFP) as well as the local government units (LGUs) for the commitment to support the Phase 2 of the project,” Gatchalian said.
Officially launched last August 31, Project LAWA is an initiative of the DSWD, through its Disaster Response Management Bureau that aims to provide a sustainable solution and proactive intervention to address the challenges faced by poor communities during periods of severe drought, ultimately mitigating the threat of water scarcity.