The forum served as a platform to strengthen the implementation of the RRP, enhance coordination among stakeholders, and ensure the delivery of impactful and sustainable interventions across the region.

Resource persons from the DSWD Central Office guided the discussions: Dr. Maria Isabel B. Lanada, PhD, Director IV and Special Assistant to the Secretary for Special Projects; Marianito Cagabhion, RRP Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) Focal; and Rhemaleen Escalante, RRP Island Focal Person for Mindanao. Their expertise helped participants align local implementation with national standards and strategic priorities.

On the second day, Field Office Caraga Director Mari-Flor Dollaga delivered an inspirational message to motivate participants and reinforce the purpose behind their work. She emphasized, “…Thank you for your commitment. Let us continue to work together, with the understanding that we are here to serve, to empower, and to create a lasting impact that will echo far beyond this virtual platform.”

The forum brought together Project LAWA at BINHI (Local Adaptation to Water Access and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) implementers, local government unit partners across Caraga, and national agencies including the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Participants shared experiences, discussed challenges, and formulated strategies to further strengthen the program’s impact on vulnerable communities, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to address food and water insecurity.