Residents of Barangay Minsapinit, a remote area in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, are benefiting from sustainable agriculture through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) at BINHI (Breaking Insufficient Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished).

The barangay, known for its cool climate and fertile volcanic soil, has long faced challenges including water scarcity and limited agricultural knowledge, leaving farmlands idle. Project LAWA focuses on improving water access, while BINHI aims to boost food security and nutrition.

The program provides beneficiaries with Cash-for-Training (CFT) and Cash-for-Work (CFW), offering financial support in exchange for participating in training and project activities. Participants work together to clear and cultivate idle land, turning it into vegetable gardens and fishponds. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) inspects the water after a month to determine readiness for fingerlings and tilapia, while the province supplies seedlings for crops such as bottle gourd, eggplant, okra, and string beans.

Training is provided on land preparation, vegetable planting, and fish culture. The program also serves as an intervention against the effects of drought and irregular rainfall, allowing beneficiaries to harvest vegetables and tilapia for personal consumption or sale after three to four months.

Gingoog City agriculturist Arshen Acla emphasized proper management for both crops and fish, noting that following feeding schedules, fertilization, and care ensures productive results. The city’s Social Welfare and Development Officer, Joni Socorro Eseos, highlighted the program’s broader benefits, saying it provides temporary income, improves food security, and supplies produce for the community.

Residents reported easier access to food and a reduction in travel for daily necessities. Beneficiary Precipitacion Leones recalled that before the program, the area was overgrown with weeds, which they cleared before planting various vegetables. Dante Estenzo, president of the Minsapinit Farmers Association, said families work on the project and also rely on it for vegetables when other supplies run low (“Diyan kami ng pamilya nag-tatrabaho at diyan din kumukuha ng gulay kung walang maiulam”).

Project LAWA at BINHI combines agriculture and climate adaptation to address poverty and hunger. Implemented in partnership with local government units and other stakeholders, it equips vulnerable communities with training, cash-for-work support, and climate-resilient farming practices, ensuring long-term impact.

The DSWD’s Kwento ng Pag-asa at Pagbabago (KPAP), an award-winning online documentary hosted by Information Officer Bianca Piedad-Tamondong, features the program every Tuesday on the agency’s official Facebook page.