DSWD: Poor families to get El Niño aid

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has given assurance that it is committed to assisting and protecting the poor and most vulnerable communities from the impact of El Niño.

“The DSWD is part of the food security cluster under the El Niño national action plan issued by President Marcos,” Irene Dumlao, assistant secretary for legislative affairs, said in an interview over dzMe.

The cluster, which is led by the Department of Agriculture, ensures a stable supply of key food commodities amid the dry spell.

“The President issued an order to all national government agencies to prepare for the impending effects of the El Niño phenomenon,” Dumlao said.

In line with the President’s directive, she said the DSWD is implementing various projects, including Project LAWA or the Local Adaptation to Water Access, which aims to improve the resiliency of communities affected by El Niño.

Project LAWA aims to provide income support to poor communities, particularly farmers and fisherfolk, as well as provide field community physical assets such as water ponds.

Under the project, the DSWD, through its cash-for-training and work programs, will provide financial support in exchange for work rendered by beneficiaries.

Dumlao said the project targets the construction of 90 small farm reservoirs in Davao de Oro, Ifugao and Antique.

The country is likely to experience “moderate to severe drought conditions” from February to May 2024, with 77 percent of the country’s provinces expected to be in drought by the end of May, according to the Department of Science and Technology.

National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eduardo Guillen vowed to comply with the directive of the President to finish the construction of irrigation facilities and similar projects in four months to ensure enough water supply as the country braces for El Niño.

At the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing yesterday, Guillen said measures are in place to address the delay in the implementation of irrigation projects.

“After I joined NIA, we evaluated all the delayed projects and we already made a catch-up plan. So as of now, the Balbalungao is already finished. More are expected to be completed,” Guillen said.

Marcos inaugurated the Balbalungao Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in Lupao town on Wednesday.

“We already sought the help of the Department of Agriculture so that they can provide hybrid rice during the dry season so that we can have higher yield,” Guillen said.