To strengthen the alignment of program goals and continue advancing resilience-building efforts, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga, through its Risk Resiliency Program (RRP), held a 3-day Regional Technical Working Group (TWG) Forum on the implementation of Project LAWA at BINHI on November 19–21, 2025, at VCDU Prince Hotel, Butuan City.
Dr. Maria Isabel Lanada, Director IV of DSWD Central Office – Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB), graced the event and presented the national strategic directions, alongside the updated guidelines and institutional arrangements of the program.
Director Lanada also emphasized the significance of Project LAWA at BINHI and thoroughly explained how the efforts of the TWG, partner implementers, and community beneficiaries collectively contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly on building climate resilience and ensuring food and water security.
Meanwhile, DSWD FO Caraga Assistant Regional Director for Administration Tristan Telen welcomed the participants and reminded everyone that initiatives such as Project LAWA at BINHI must remain climate-smart, people-centered, and grounded in local realities to create long-term impact.
Project LAWA at BINHI (Local Adaptation to Water Access and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished), implemented under the RRP, aims to address pressing concerns on water scarcity and food insecurity by equipping partner beneficiaries with the knowledge and tools needed to adapt, produce, and sustain nutritious harvests despite climate threats.
The Forum also served as a crucial venue for partner implementers to raise concerns, share learnings, and gain a clearer understanding of the project’s implementation strategies for 2026. It strengthened collaboration among the TWG members and ensured that the region is fully prepared for the program’s rollout in the coming year.
