Some 400 indigent residents in San Rafael, Bulacan have benefited from the program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that helps communities deal with the impacts of climate change.

Under the DSWD’s Risk Resiliency Program-Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Disaster Risk Reduction (RRP-CCAM DRR), the beneficiaries were given temporary employment through the cash-for-work scheme.

DSWD-Region 3 (Central Luzon) director Marites Maristela said on Wednesday the RRP-CCAM DRR program focuses on empowering communities to become disaster-resilient by combating the effects of climate change.

“Ang layunin ng programa na maiangat ang kakayahan ng bawat indibidwal at himukin ang pamayanan na magkaisa upang epektibong malabanan ang climate change (The goal of the program is to enhance the capabilities of each individual and encourage the community to unite in order to effectively combat climate change),” she said in an official social media post.

Maristela said the program is implemented through projects anchored on the climate change action plan of local government units (LGUs).

In Bulacan, she said the beneficiaries worked in the communal gardening program aimed at reducing hunger incidence and ensure that every family in the community has food on the table.

The beneficiaries received PHP3,000 each as compensation for their 10-day work for a total of PHP1.2 million. (PNA)