Capacitation a key to reduce climate change impact, says climate advocate

Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) advocacy officer Roland Pereyra and Climate Policy for Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities manager Juan Miguel Torres speak at the “Sagip Kita Kaibigan: A Disaster Risk Initiative,” via UST MUN FB Page

By Shaira Dennisse Sindayen and Prince Ernest Eugene Ronson Sabado

COUNTRIES SHOULD prioritize the capacitation of vulnerable communities in preparing for the impacts of climate change, an advocacy officer said.

"They are the ones who are affected first. So, if we want to reduce the effects of these events (climate change), then they should be the first ones to be capacitated. Once we capacitate these community members, the local government units only have to augment," Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) advocacy officer Roland Pereyra said during a community development project on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Pereyra noted that vulnerable groups today, including older people, children, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities, are "disproportionately" affected by the negative impacts of natural hazards.

Therefore, Pereyra argued, people's participation is necessary to "get the specific needs" these communities may need during disasters.

Despite the Asian continent meeting the most indicators in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Pereyra said the Philippines is one of the "riskiest" nations in the region, together with Indonesia and India due to its geographical position.

The Philippines is situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire and Typhoon Belt.

Common impacts faced by Filipino communities surround the areas of livelihood, infrastructure and facilities, properties, and the environment, Pereyra emphasized.

The CDP representative asserted that Asia is also at the highest risk of climate change and "other extreme weather events" in comparison to other regions and is estimated to continue being vulnerable to the threats of climate change.

Documenting local ECO-DRR practices

 

Climate Policy for Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities manager Juan Miguel Torres said that traditional knowledge is essential for environmental protection and disaster risk reduction, particularly in small-island communities at the frontline of natural hazards.

 

“Their indigenous knowledge in adapting and minimizing the effects of the hazards has something to do with how they manage and love their environment,” Torres said in Filipino.

 

Torres discussed that documenting these local Eco-DRR practices will help promote effective emergency planning and disaster responses. According to him, research-based approaches with a mix of art like Photovoice will make disaster management more “community-based” and “participative.”

 

He added that Photovoice can be used as an educational model that is a good source of evidence to engage policymakers in supporting the communities and their local knowledge regarding Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM).

 

“Capture and document these realities— what is really happening in the community that often experiences hazards that are effects of climate change,” Torres said.

 

The webinar titled “Sagip Kita Kaibigan: A Disaster Risk Initiative,” held on Thursday, Nov. 30, is the community development project organized by the UST Asian Studies Society in partnership with the UST Model United Nations and UST Simbahayan.