QUEZON CITY (PIA) — In a major push to strengthen community resilience against climate shocks, the government is deepening its engagement with private sector partners through a landmark multi-agency, multi-sectoral agreement to scale up climate adaptation and food security programs nationwide.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities (OPASRC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) formally sealed their expanded partnership on Thursday, November 5, marking a critical milestone in the country’s proactive stance against climate risks and food insecurity.
The agreement establishes the Project LAWA at BINHI PLUS framework, aiming to rally private sector and development partners to help bring reliable water and food supplies to remote and disadvantaged communities before prolonged dry spells threaten their livelihoods and survival amid the looming effects of El Niño.
Expanding reach and impact through public-private collaboration
The newly formalized Project LAWA at BINHI PLUS framework builds upon the foundation of the DSWD's flagship initiative, Project LAWA at BINHI (Local Adaptation to Water Access and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished). Since its inception in 2023, the program has grown significantly, reaching over 180,000 partner beneficiaries in Luzon by 2025 across 3,246 barangays and 343 municipalities.
Through its signature 20-day Cash-for-Training-and-Work program, the initiative has provided temporary income while equipping vulnerable populations with vital skills in disaster preparedness, water management, and sustainable agriculture.
To date, the program has built 1,650 small farm reservoirs and repaired 831 community irrigation systems, and established 3,875 communal gardens that have yielded over 8 million kilos of vegetables.
With the introduction of Project LAWA at BINHI PLUS, the government seeks to bridge resource gaps that often limit the long-term sustainability of community interventions. Under this multi-sectoral alliance, OPASRC will spearhead stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization, while DSWD oversees implementation.
A whole-of-society approach
The landmark signing ceremony also brought together key institutional allies, including the National Resilience Council Foundation (NRCF) and ARISE Philippines, a premier network engaging businesses in disaster risk reduction.
By uniting government agencies, non-government organizations, and private sector leaders such as SM Prime Holdings, Inc., the partnership creates a robust framework to pool financial, technical, and material assistance. These contributions will directly fund water-harvesting facilities, agricultural inputs, and capacity-building programs.
Ultimately, the partnership highlights a whole-of-society approach championed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s administration. Through shared responsibility and institutional cooperation, the initiative ensures remote and disadvantaged communities are well equipped to adapt, recover, and thrive amid escalating climate challenges. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
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