BULALACAO, MANKAYAN, BENGUET – Nestled in the mountains of Benguet, the barangay of Bulalacao – named for ancient legends of shooting stars that blessed its rocks with copper, is transforming its future through “Project LAWA at BINHI,” a community-led agriculture initiative launched by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under its Risk Resiliency Program on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (RRP-CCAM), a program specifically designed to empower vulnerable communities to build resilience against climate change impacts through sustainable livelihood and food security initiatives.
When first launched in 2022, 37 partner-beneficiaries received a total of ₱318,200 in direct assistance. What began as a support program has grown into a transformative movement – fresh organic vegetables are now produced by the community and school gardens now feed students at the National Child Development Center (NCDC), while proceeds from harvests have purchased ukuleles for the children turning crops into music and opportunity. The first earnings from the harvested produce, tracked through regular monitoring, were used to buy these ukeleles. This choice was made after recognizing that music education is a core subject in the NCDC daycare curriculum. The ukuleles have given children a tangible way to learn music, fostering cognitive development, fine motor skills, and a joyful space to express themselves culturally. More than just toys, these instruments have become vital tools in their holistic learning journey.
The Turning Point: The Spirit of “Tinnulong”
The initiative combines two key pillars: Project LAWA established climate-resilient water supply systems to ensure consistent crop irrigation amid changing weather patterns, while Project BINHI developed community and school garden spaces. Parents of NCDC learners participated in 15 days of cash-for-work and 5 days of cash-for-training to help build the Project’s agricultural hub while earning cash incentives for their contributions. When materials ran short, the community came together through Tinnulong – their longstanding tradition of volunteerism with the Barangay Council, school staff, and families pooling resources to keep the project moving forward.
For years, Bulalacao relied heavily on mining for income. Though blessed with rich soil, many families faced food insecurity and financial uncertainty, as traditional gardening practices lacked formal support. Project LAWA at BINHI has helped the community build on its farming roots while equipping it to adapt to climate change and improve livelihoods. Today, the ukuleles are actively used in NCDC’s daily music classes, with children regularly practicing songs and even performing in small community gatherings bringing the sounds of learning and joy to the barangay. Looking ahead, the project has several key plans expanding the garden areas to grow more varieties of climate-resilient crops, increasing harvest volumes to boost income and food supply, and using future proceeds to add more musical instruments and learning materials for the center. The community also aims to share their successful model with neighboring barangays, inspiring other vulnerable areas to build their own resilience through sustainable agriculture and community collaboration.
“This group helped us generate income for school improvements and supported activities even outside the Municipality,” said Ms. Aurora Cabungtan, Team Leader of the NCDC Bulalacao group. “We are grateful to DSWD’s Risk Resiliency Program for making this possible.” Cabungtan added.
For partner-beneficiary Ms. Sharon Chilagan, the impact goes beyond financial support. “The cash assistance helps us with our day-to-day needs, but the project gave us so much more a sense of purpose, skills for the future, and the chance to see our children thrive,” she shared.
By combining work, learning, and community culture, the people of Bulalacao have redefined their connection to the land their progress visible in growing plants and heard in the music of their children. #DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit, Novelle G. Ongat, Information Officer II with GRECHELL D. CRISOSTOMO (SMU Intern- Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology)
