Tatay Juanito Reobaldo an idle land owner is now a farmer in Bustos, Bulacan.

He and a group of neighbors-turned-farmers transformed a barren lot into a productive vegetable garden through the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) at BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished).

“With the high prices of vegetables today, we have to think of a way to plant them. Any vegetable can be planted at low cost and it will grow with a little care. It would be a big cut to (food) expenses,” Reobaldo said during an interview with the DSWD’s award-winning online documentary, “Kuwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago” (KPAP).

He believes that the value of farming resonated with the DSWD’s vision for Project LAWA at BINHI, which aims to combat the effects of climate change and to mitigate the impact of food insecurity and water scarcity caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon while preparing for the potential effects of the rainy season.

LAWA at BINHI also contributes to raising awareness on climate change and ways to mitigate its adverse impact, particularly through its cash-for-training/work (CFT/W) on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and practical skills gardening and water harvesting.

He recalled that it started with their training conducted by the regional office of the DSWD on the first day.

“On the second day, we invited municipal agriculturist to give tips and guides on proper planting or vegetable gardening in our community,” Municipal Social Welfare and Development focal person Joen Eugenio told KPAP.

Clearing the vacant lot and transforming it into a vegetable garden was no small feat. The participants labored 20 days of cash-for-work under the sun, cutting tall grasses and digging irrigation systems to sustain the crops.

The seedlings and fertilizers, provided by the agriculture office, were complemented by contributions from the beneficiaries themselves, creating a shared sense of ownership and pride.

For Reobaldo and his community members, the success of the project lies in its sustainability. They ensured that a water source at the edge of the farmland can be easily accessed for irrigation during dry seasons, while natural pest control methods — including recycled plastic bottles — and organic fertilizers further support the project’s eco-friendly approach.

When asked how they were able to sustain the project, beneficiary Cristina Dionisio pointed out that it was a collaborative effort of all the participants.

“We started on July 20, 2024. After 20 days, we continued it by ourselves with members helping to make it beautiful and orderly. It was a very big help to us,” Cristina shared to KPAP.

Meanwhile, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Debbie Lyn Bustamante said the program really helped ensure food security in the community.

“It helped in terms of food security. That was the number one help to Bustoseño since you will be the one to plant and eat the one you planted,” Debbie Lyn, another beneficiary, explained in the online documentary.

Currently, the beneficiaries were able to harvest various produce such as eggplant, chilli pepper, sponge gourd, stringbeans, mustard and okra.

As the project continues, the beneficiaries of Bustos town envision a future where their community continues to thrive through agriculture.

“We are greatly thankful to DSWD because of its program. Those who put it up now have a livelihood and work,” Reobaldo said.

The success of Project LAWA and BINHI in Bustos is proof that sustainable solutions to complex challenges are possible when community members come together.