June 26, 2025 – Two hundred (200) residents of Magdalena, Laguna thanked both the DSWD and their local government unit as they completed five community projects under the Risk Resiliency Program thru Project LAWA at BINHI. During the turnover of these projects last June 19-20, the residents also committed towards using and sustaining the projects for the benefit of their communities.

Under the Project LAWA at BINHI, the residents underwent training and work for 20 days for the preparation and completion of community gardens and fishponds in five project sites in the locality.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa DSWD dahil isa ang aming bayan sa nabigyan ng proyektong ito. Natutunan po namin kung paano pangalagaan ang aming mga halaman at mapanatiling malinis ang fishpond,” shared Michelle Caballes, a resident of Brgy. Sabang.

Joyce Paglinawan, a resident of Brgy. Alipit, also shared her gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of this program.

“Marami kaming natutunan dito tulad ng pangangalaga ng ating kapaligiran at pagtatanim at pag-aalaga ng isda. Nagpapasalamat kami sa DSWD at sa LGU para sa oportunidad na matuto, magtrabaho, at kumita,” Paglinawan added.

Prior to the turnover of the projects, the residents also underwent a sustainability planning workshop where they devised action plans to ensure the operation and maintenance of their completed projects in the future.

The Project LAWA at BINHI (Local Adaptation to Water Access and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) is a program of the DSWD that capacitates and engages residents in developing and sustaining projects that would help address food insecurity and water insufficiency in their communities. The program is implemented using the cash-for-training and cash-for-work scheme that provides participants opportunities to earn additional income for their families. [with reports from MERCao]