DSWD Allocates PHP1.4 Billion to Mitigate El Niño Effects

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allocated over PHP1.4 billion for projects aimed at mitigating the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, in line with directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

According to Philippines News Agency, Special Assistant to the DSWD Secretary for Special Projects, the funds will support the Local Adaptation to Water Access (Project LAWA) and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished (Project BINHI). These initiatives are designed to enhance community resilience to climate change by addressing food insecurity and water scarcity. The projects, which are based on scientific data and the climate outlook from DOST-PAGASA, target vulnerable groups such as farmers, fisherfolk, and indigenous peoples, providing them with cash-for-work and cash-for-training opportunities. With the implementation of these projects across 294 cities and municipalities, the DSWD aims to construct small farm reservoirs and promote sustainable agricultural practices to bolster food security and water efficiency.