The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched on August 31 the Local Adaptation on Water Access or ‘Project LAWA’ to prepare communities on the possible scarcity of water due to the El Niño phenomenon.

According to the Climate Outlook from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), El Niño is already present in the tropical Pacific including the Philippines, and will persist until the first quarter of 2024.

The outlook also shows that the phenomenon manifests signs of strengthening in the coming months, with most of the provinces in the Philippines to have below normal rainfall in November 2023.

PROJECT LAWA PILOT TOWNS

Project LAWA will be piloted in three provinces – Ifugao for Luzon, Antique for Visayas, and Davao de Oro for Mindanao.

Director Goc-ong stressed that the pilot areas were chosen based on the severity of impact brought by the incoming drought. 

The identified towns are Alfonso, Aguinaldo, and Hungduan for Ifugao;  Sebaste, Barbaza, and Sibalom for Antique; and Monkayo, Compostela and Laak for Davao de Oro.

Representative Maricar Zamora of the First Congressional District of the province expressed her gratitude to DSWD for choosing Davao de Oro as one of the pilot areas for Project LAWA.

“This will again not only help provide additional income for our poor, vulnerable, and marginalized families but will also build community water ponds that are vital for sustaining economic activities of the community,” Zamora said.

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT 

During the launch, the DSWD, Department of Agriculture (DA), United Nations - World Food Program (UN-WFP), and local government units formalized their commitment through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Project LAWA implementation.

Each reservoir will be constructed within a 20 by 25-square meter area with a maximum depth of 50 feet. Furthermore, the UN-WFP contributed tools worth approximately P250,000, including shovels, pickaxes, galvanized iron buckets, gloves, and paddy boots, to support stakeholders involved in the construction. Local government units will subsequently identify the specific locations for the reservoir development.

TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT TO RESIDENTS

The DSWD will collaborate with the respective local government units in employing 50 individuals to build each reservoir for 15 days. These workers will receive a daily wage of P443, amounting to a total of P6,645 for the entire project duration. Priority for employment will be given to individuals on the Listahanan, members of farmer associations, beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program and Risk Resiliency Program, and other vulnerable sectors affected by El Niño.

Edmund Lawian, 68 years old, one of the target beneficiaries, expressed his gratitude to the government as the salary will help his family in their daily expenses, especially in the studies of their children.

“Pasalamat ko nga naka apil ko dinhi kay naa koy estudyante; tabangan nako siya para makalampos sa iyang kurso (I am thankful that I was included here because I have a student; I will help him finish his studies),” he said. (MLU/PIA Davao de Oro)