Members of the Sitio Atik Farmers Association, Inc. worked in unity to build their most cherished Small Farm Reservoir (SFR) atop a mountain in their village that is now their source of income providing food on the table for their families

A community in Caba town in La Union continues to benefit from a small farm reservoir (SFR) made 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).

Climate change has brought many adverse changes in the community and the locals are aware that they will continue to feel these in the coming days.

Among its devastating effects is the El Nino phenomenon where there is extreme drought, causing the soil to dry and crops to die.

A mountain in Barangay Liquicia, one of the town’s villages, now holds a treasure that farmers and community members hold dear.

This is their cherished SFR project that was built through the DSWD’s Project LAWA and BINHI which is the agency’s risk resiliency initiative in communities nationwide that are most affected by drought and climate change.

DSWD Field Office 1- (Ilocos Region) Disaster Risk Resiliency Program Field Office (DRRPO) staff Justine Ray Ferrer shared with the #Kwento ng PagAsa at Pagbabago (KPAP), the DSWD’s award-winning online documentary: “Mayroong effects yung climate change which is yung El Nino so nag come-up po ng ganitong project through LAWA at BINHI. Para masolusyunan yung kakulangan sa tubig at yung food scarcity, gumawa po ng SFR ang bayan ng Caba at communal garden para po solusyunan yung mga ganun na krisis na pwede ma-encounter pa po ng ating mga beneficiaries.”

The farming community worked hand in hand to make the SFR project a reality.

Members of the Sitio Atik Farmers Association, Inc. and other community members worked tirelessly and with full dedication for 18 days to make the man-made spring that became the source of water for their farm crops and communal garden.

A beneficiary, Glenn Farro, said the community members worked from July 1 to July 18 (2024) to finish the project, where he learned the value of unity and cooperation.

The place was full of wild grasses and needed digging for the completion of the reservoir or “bukal.” The workers who built the reservoir received Php8,700 as wages which they were also grateful for.

The 4,000-square meter land where the reservoir was built is owned by Roel Farro, a member of the community who gladly lent his property free of charge for 10 years.

“Masaya po na nakakatulong tapos may pandilig nang halaman, tapos may kabuhayan na din sila na naitulong din. Maraming salamat din sa mga kasamahan namin na tumulong dito kasi kung wala itong LAWA (project), wala ding pagkukunan ng tubig na pandilig sa mga tanim. Marami din pong salamat sa DSWD sa tulong nila,” Glen explained.

With the source of water already available, the communal garden in the barangay also thrived and yielded bountiful produce which helped the community members’ livelihood. Through the garden, they were able to plant various vegetable crops which also became their families’ source of food.

Sitio Atik Farmers Association Inc. President Melbert Quinones shared how the project helped them and taught them how to work together.

“Maraming naitulong ito kasi nagkaroon kami ng hanapbuhay, nagamit namin sa kagipitan, nagamit namin sa pangkabuhayan namin yung nakuha naming pera (sa pinagtrabahuhan). Akala namin di namin mabubuo kasi wala kaming gamit kundi pala lang at saka asarol. Akala namin di naming makakaya ng ilang araw pero kinaya rin dahil sa pagtutulungan namin,”Melbert gladly narrated to #KPAP.

The opportunities for development continue to build with the presence of adequate supply of water and the partnership of other agencies helping the community cope with the effects of climate change.

DRRP Officer Ferrer stressed the importance of collaborating with the local government unit (LGU) and other agencies like the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the completion, monitoring and further development of the LAWA and BINHI Project.

Presently, the farmers are looking forward for the fingerlings from the BFAR. The fingerlings will be put in the ‘lawa’ or man-made lake as an additional source of livelihood opportunities for the association members.

Caba Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) staff Christian Lozano said: “Nagrequest na po tayo sa BFAR after nuong matapos itong SFR nila. Nag-validate na din po ang BFAR dito at tinignan ang quality ng tubig. Nagfollow-up na din po tayo para sa fingerlings at nagsabi po silang hintayin na lamang daw po.”

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)