KABUGAO, Apayao – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with the provincial government and the municipal governments of Calanasan, Conner, Kabugao, Flora, and Luna, has rolled out Project LAWA at BINHI, a climate-responsive program that addresses water scarcity and food insecurity in vulnerable communities.
The program integrates two core components. LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) focuses on expanding water access in drought-prone areas through the construction and rehabilitation of small-scale water harvesting infrastructure. This includes the development of farm reservoirs for tilapia production and other interventions aimed at diversifying local water sources.
BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) promotes sustainable food production by introducing climate-resilient farming methods. Activities include communal gardening, vermicomposting, and the planting of high-value and disaster-resilient crops to improve both household nutrition and community food supply.
Launched in April 2025, Project LAWA at BINHI aims to improve the adaptive capacity of poor and at-risk families, while building long-term community resilience to climate-related disruptions. The project currently targets 16 organized farmers’ cooperatives and associations, reaching 1,200 individual beneficiaries in the province.
Each beneficiary is enrolled in a 5-day Cash-for-Training and a 15-day Cash-for-Work program, with daily compensation set at PhP430, following the 2024 regional minimum wage rate.
Likewise, the project also aims to address Apayao’s shortfalls in tilapia and vegetable production, particularly during the rainy season when food supply chains are strained. By Apayao PIO
