To promote lasting environmental, social, and economic impacts, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office XI, in partnership with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), and other local stakeholders, conducted a series of Sustainability Action Planning activities under Project LAWA at BINHI in Compostela, Davao de Oro. These were held from May 5-6 and 8, 2025, in three barangays across the municipality.

The sessions gathered a total of 200 partner beneficiaries, starting on May 5 in Purok 17, Barangay Ngan, followed by May 6 in Purok 13, Barangay Mangayon, which also involved members of the Mangayon Organic Farmers Association, and concluding on May 8 in Purok 5B, Barangay Maparat. These activities served to empower communities to take ownership of project outcomes and develop long-term, localized strategies for sustainability.

Key DSWD personnel led the planning sessions, including Luigi C. Garzon (Social Welfare Officer II), Karen C. Gayonan (Regional Focal), Andrea Mae, and Batuhan (Capacity Building Focal). They were supported by MSWDO staff Vanessa Grace Paqueyo, Jovelyn Abucayon, and Jay Bancoletta, along with MDRRMO officer Lencer Leonor. Their coordination ensured that discussions were inclusive, practical, and grounded in the realities of the local environment.

The primary goals of these sessions were to promote community participation in conservation, integrate sustainable practices into everyday life, and create action plans that ensure continuity of the project’s climate resilience efforts. Through participatory planning workshops, communities identified key environmental issues, resource challenges, and proposed context-specific solutions that they can lead and manage beyond the project period.

“The involvement of the community in planning sustainability efforts is crucial. We’re not just transferring knowledge—we’re building local leadership in climate adaptation and environmental stewardship, said Luigi C. Garzon.

The action plans developed will serve as blueprints for both community and municipal initiatives, supporting wider local development and risk reduction efforts.

The initiative underlines the commitment of DSWD XI and its partners to ensure that the gains of Project LAWA at BINHI go beyond immediate implementation. By empowering communities like those in Compostela to lead their own sustainability journeys, the project sets the stage for long-term, inclusive, and climate-smart development across Davao Region.