The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office MIMAROPA, through its Risk Resiliency Program, continues to strengthen community resilience and sustainable livelihoods as it successfully served 3,500 partner-beneficiaries under Project LAWA at BINHI in Calendar Year 2025, with total assistance amounting to Php 27,965,000.00.

Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) focused on improving access to safe and sustainable water resources through the establishment of 59 project sites across the region. Interventions included the construction of small farm reservoirs, rehabilitation of community irrigation systems, and enhancement of potable water sources, addressing water insecurity while supporting agricultural productivity and household needs of partner-communities.

Complementing these efforts, Project BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) implemented 117 sites aimed at promoting environmental protection and climate resilience. Activities covered community gardening, hapag development, mangrove and tree growing, and the establishment of marine protected area partnerships, enabling communities to actively participate in ecological conservation while generating sustainable sources of income.

According to Benchie B. Gonzales, Officer-in-Charge of DSWD MIMAROPA, the twin projects underscore the Department’s commitment to long-term resilience-building. “Through Project LAWA at BINHI, DSWD MIMAROPA continues to empower communities to adapt to climate and environmental challenges while improving access to basic resources that support food security, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability,” Gonzales said.

The Department remains steadfast in advancing programs that promote sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic empowerment, ensuring that vulnerable and at-risk communities across the MIMAROPA region are better equipped to withstand the impacts of climate change and environmental risks.