In March 2024, members of the Tumana Vegetable Farmers Association (TVFA) from Santa Maria, Bulacan received an unexpected blessing through the Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The 60 farmers were given 20 days to work on a project under LAWA at BINHI and were given cash for training and cash for work assistance.
According to the DSWD Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Person Arman Jose Manuel, the 20 days were allocated to capacitate the farmers, followed by preparation of the land and the actual implementation. Also, part of the 20 days of work was planning for the sustainability of the project.
“Sa first three days po meron kaming tinatawag na cash for training, cash for work. Sa three days po na yun ay pinag-aralan kung paano magtanim, 4 to 18 days ay nilinis muna yung area and then magtatanim na ng halaman, gulay and then yung 18 to 20 days po ay pag-aaralan ulit ng beneficiaries kung paano natin i-sustain yung programa,” Focal Person Manuel said in an interview with the #Kwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago (#KPAP), the award-winning online documentary of the DSWD.
As part of the Project LAWA and BINHI, the farmers were given Php10,000 as cash for work/cash for training incentive for the 20 days that they worked to complete their project.
Rodolfo Dela Torre Jr, President of the TVFA, said that the amount helped the 60 farmer-members and their families in their basic needs. It also helped them in the education of their children.
Aside from the cash incentive, Rodolfo said the farmers learned essential knowledge in farming, especially on how to source out water supply for their farming needs. They also gained the much needed lessons on how to continue farming the right vegetables per season.
“Marami po kaming natutunan. Unang-una po kung paano magkaroon po kami ng source ng tubig dahil ang project nga po ay LAWA at BINHI. Tapos kung paano po mai-continue ang pagtatanim ng gulay. Napaka importante po dun ay yung natutunan po naming kung paano magtanim ng mga halaman na naayon sa panahon,” Rodolfo told the #(KPAP) team.
The project also became a platform for the government’s whole-of-nation-approach in providing interventions to those in need.
The TVFA farmers also received the needed farming assistance from the local government unit (LGU) of Santa Maria, especially from the Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO).
Santa Maria Municipal Agriculturist Arnel Garcia has this to say: “Ang samahan po ng mga magsasaka po dito, may iba na nagtatanim po ng vegetables eh nakakakuha po ng libreng seeds pananim nila na gulay. Nakakakuha rin po sila ng fertilizer sa aming opisina, libre po.”
In addition, the farmers also benefited from water pump or irrigation facilities, as well as grass cutter which they can use in cleaning their farm land. The water pump and other irrigation facilities made efficient work of watering the farmers’ plants, enabling them to harvest their vegetable produce almost on a daily basis.
Previously, farmers rely solely on fetching water from the river for their plants. With the water pump and irrigation facilities, the farmers were able to dig and built a well, bringing the water source closer to their farm land.
Rodolfo said the project created a huge development in their lives, as their farming livelihood greatly improved compared to when they had yet to receive assistance. With a more accessible and stable water source, and the free provision of seeds, the farmers get to harvest around 100 sacks of vegetables, more or less, every 20 to 25 days.
Edgardo Tubale, TVFA Vice President, said the Project LAWA and BINHI positively affected his life, saying, “Malaking bagay po sa aming pagtatanim ng gulay kasi nakapagtapos po ako ng pag-aaral ng dalawang anak ko. Nakatulong din po siya sa amin kasi nung time na nagkasakit po ako nung sa kidney, nakagastos po kami ng malaki. Nagkautang ako. Yung kinita namin sa gulay naibayad ko.”
Both Rodolfo and Edgardo expressed the farmers’ gratitude to the DSWD and the LGU of Santa Maria for granting them their long-wished for assistance, which is now slowly but surely changing their lives for the better.
They also shared their joy in contributing to the food security program of the country as the farmers continue to harvest more vegetables.
“Kami po sa Tumana Vegetable Farmers Association ay lubos na nagpapasalamat dahil naramdaman po namin kung paano kami natulungan at saka yung ani po naming ay naise-share din po sa mga nangangailangan,” Rodolfo said.
The #KPAP is a joint production of the Traditional Media Service (TMS) and the Digital Media Service (DMS), which are under the Strategic Communications. It is hosted by TMS Director Aldrine Fermin and is posted every Tuesday on the DSWD’s official Facebook page. (GDVF)