The impact of climate change has become more evident. Heat waves a few months ago affected routine, canceling classes in school, prohibiting outdoor activities, and adjusting the way people went along with their daily schedules. When the rains came, the waters flooded streets and destroyed crops, causing billions of pesos in damage, threatening food security, and claiming many lives.
We are familiar with the scenarios that climate change has brought on. After emerging from a long dry spell of El Niño, we are preparing for the La Nina weather phenomenon. The reality of climate change should by now create a deeper awareness on the importance of resilience, or our ability to recover quickly from disaster.
That is the focus of the Climate Change Commission’s (CCC) campaign on the role of climate resilience in safeguarding the Philippines from the escalating impacts of climate change. Its observance of National Disaster Resilience Month is focused on the theme “Bantayog ng Katatagan at ang Pagbubuklod sa Layuning Kahandaan” (Pillar of resilience and uniting for preparedness). Programs emphasize the necessity of proactive measures to enhance the country’s ability to withstand and recover from climate-related disasters.
Preparedness is the key to resilience and this requires that individuals stay informed of what’s happening around them, especially on community programs that have been designed for dealing with climate change. Being connected to one’s community can start with volunteer work. Use this day to find out where you fit in your barangay’s disaster preparedness programs.
“Solidarity and collective action are fundamental to climate resilience. Building strong connections with neighbors and community organizations, participating in local volunteer efforts focused on climate-related disaster response and recovery, and spreading awareness about climate resilience through schools, workplaces, and social networks are also important,” the CCC said.
The agency’s programs also include calls to support climate-resilient infrastructure improvement and the adoption of sustainable practices, including recycling, energy conservation, and sustainable transportation. Any effort to lessen one’s footprint on this planet – such as reducing waste – can contribute to sustainable practices. Start with avoiding the use of single-use plastic bags and containers, a situation which confront each of us daily.
The crucial role that local government units (LGUs) will play in the implementation of national climate change mitigation and adaptation plans has been highlighted by the CCC during the recent Eastern Visayas Summit on Climate-Resilient Development. Among the programs discussed were the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change, National Climate Change Action Plan, and the National Climate Risks Management Framework.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is preparing for a significant initiative next year with its new community-led climate adaptation project under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).
Now on its initial planning stage, the program is designed to tackle the dual challenges of poverty and climate change in vulnerable areas, particularly those prone to severe climatic hazards and home to indigenous populations.
Already, the DSWD has reported that the KALAHI-CIDSS has achieved “significant milestones, enhancing community resilience by constructing 1,250 community centers, multi-purpose buildings, and evacuation centers, providing safe havens during disasters.” It has also provided 928 units of disaster and pandemic response equipment, and built 3,566 quarantine facilities, re-purposed to manage public health emergencies during disasters.
The government programs to build disaster resilient communities need the support of individuals and families who make up the barangays. Start with a disaster preparedness plan in your household.
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