In the quiet, upland community of Barangay Kianlagan, Gingoog City, hope did not arrive with grand speeches or ribbon-cuttings. It grew quietly, in the hearts of ordinary people who believed they could create something greater with what was handed to them.

Under Project LAWA at BINHI, 75 members came together to build a livelihood that would endure long after the project ended. Among them is Jojie Elevado, 42, the treasurer of the association, whose humble guidance in planning and transparency helped the group learn to manage its resources with care and responsibility.

During the 20-day Cash-for-Training and work phase, each member earned ₱8,760 while transforming a small plot of land into a community garden and a reservoir for tilapia production. Instead of spending everything on personal needs, they contributed a portion of their earnings, pooling around ₱57,000 as seed capital. With this, they strengthened their garden, expanded the reservoir, and built a modest bahay kubo that now serves as their meeting place. Every purchase, from fish feeds to fertilizers, was a conscious step toward sustaining their livelihood, a testament to their shared commitment and foresight.

Their first harvest on July 10, 2025, earned only ₱1,000, but the small success ignited hope. By the next month, earnings grew to ₱7,000, and by September, they were already replanting. Instead of keeping the produce for themselves, the group turned their harvest into a gift for the community. They fed children at the Barangay Health Center and donated other vegetables for additional sessions. Jojie proudly shared the joy of seeing children enjoy the meals they helped provide, saying it made all their hard work worthwhile. Inspired by this dedication, the Barangay Council passed a resolution ensuring the PLAB initiative would continue even with leadership changes, protecting the garden, tilapia pond, and the progress they had built together.

Today, the group is preparing for an estimated 1,000 kilograms of tilapia to be harvested in December 2025, with members taking turns each day to care for the pond. Through unity, discipline, and the unwavering support of their barangay officials, the people of Kianlagan have transformed Project LAWA at BINHI into a symbol of hope, resilience, and shared vision.

Their story proves that real progress grows when a community invests not only in a project but in one another.

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