Monkayo, Davao De Oro, September 5, 2023 – In response to the anticipated impact of the forthcoming El Niño phenomenon in 2024, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB), in collaboration with the United Nations – World Food Programme (UNWFP) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), has launched the pilot implementation of Project L.A.W.A (Local Adaptation to Water Access) in Monkayo, Davao de Oro on August 31, 2023.

As per the El Niño Alert Status issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) on July 26, 2023, El Niño conditions are currently affecting the tropical Pacific and are expected to persist until the first quarter of 2024, with indications of strengthening in the coming months.

In anticipation of the potential consequences of El Niño, DSWD has introduced Project L.A.W.A, which focuses on enhancing local resilience and adaptability to water scarcity and food shortages through active community involvement. While the official launch occurred on August 31, 2023, the project is scheduled for full-scale implementation in 2024, marking the commencement of a comprehensive community-driven approach to addressing these critical challenges.

The pilot implementation of Project L.A.W.A will take place in Aguinaldo, Alfonso, and Hungduan municipalities in Ifugao province in Luzon; Sebaste, Barbaza, and Sibalom municipalities in Antique province in Visayas; and Laak, Monkayo, and Compostela municipalities in Davao de Oro province in Mindanao. The selection of these locations is based on the severity of the anticipated El Niño impact in these regions.

Under the project, beneficiaries will construct small farm reservoirs (SFRs) over a period of 15 days in their respective communities, which will collect rainfall and groundwater. The collected water will serve as a source of irrigation for their crops and livestock.

The Department of Agriculture will provide technical guidance and criteria for the selection of SFR locations, while the UN-WFP has supplied beneficiaries with essential tools, including shovels, pickaxes, G.I buckets, gloves, and paddy boots.

DSWD is responsible for funding the Cash-for-Training and Work program for the beneficiaries of this project and will lead its implementation.

The official launch of Project L.A.W.A signifies the commencement of a series of community workshops, training sessions, and participatory planning activities aimed at empowering the community and enhancing their capacity to initiate and sustain initiatives related to water access, food security, and climate and disaster risk management. DSWD envisions Project L.A.W.A as catalyst for change, sparking a community-led movement to address these pressing issues and secure a flourishing and sustainable future for all. (DSWD FO XI/Ezri M. Coda Jr.) ###

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