The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 7 – Central Visayas has strengthened its convergence with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) through the Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) at BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency Through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) via an Inter-Agency Meeting with partner Local Government Units (LGUs) in Cebu, Negros, and Siquijor provinces.

Representatives of the two agencies met the LGU Technical Working Groups (TWG) and oriented them regarding the project’s implementation timeline, including its scope of work and documentary requirements.

Project LAWA at BINHI focal person Mark Dereck Talisic discussed the program implementation. DOLE Senior Labor and Employment Officer Jerome D. Alam addressed DOLE-TUPAD documentary requirements and common questions about the program.

Regional Director Shalaine Lucero expressed her gratitude to DOLE for their support, citing that the convergence will ensure support for partner-beneficiaries of Project LAWA at BINHI.

“In the Department of Social Welfare and Development, we consistently acknowledge the dedication and resourcefulness of our project beneficiaries, who are leading the way in addressing the challenges posed by climate change in our communities. The strengthened collaboration between DSWD Project LAWA at BINHI and the DOLE TUPAD program will empower these beneficiaries to achieve meaningful, long-term success in sustaining their farms and water reservoirs, which remain their primary sources of livelihood,” said Lucero.

Moreover, Assistant Regional Director for Operations (ARDO) Juanito Cantero mentioned that Project LAWA at BINHI has consistently coordinated with the LGUs.

“Over the past few months, we have visited several LGUs in Region VII to provide technical assistance during the pre-implementation phase of Project LAWA at BINHI. These visits, including DOLE visits, are conducted to ensure a smooth program implementation timeline and the effective execution of the program,” Cantero said.

Meanwhile, Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD) Chief Lilibeth Cabiara is confident that the RRP team will deliver positive results with the enthusiasm of the partner LGUs.

“Our team has been working diligently over the past few weeks. With the positive feedback from our partner LGUs, we are confident that this project will move forward and deliver lasting benefits to the communities most affected by climate change.” Cabiara shared.

The convergence of DSWD Project LAWA at BINHI and DOLE TUPAD aims to maximize the resources of both departments to reach more partner beneficiaries across Region VII, especially in addressing water scarcity and food insecurity during the El Niño and La Niña phenomena. ###

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