‘Kuwentuhang Bayan’ tackles climate change issues in WV
Civil society organizations and different government agencies in Western Visayas region have joined hands in order to tackle the most pressing issues affecting the different sectors as a result of climate change through a dialogue and interaction in a climate hearing dubbed as “kuwentuhang bayan”.
The climate hearing was attended by around 60 leaders of non-government organizations and officials of the various government agencies in the Region VI.
The various sectors that participated and presented its testimonials were from the farmers, fisherfolks, indigenous people, and local government unit.
On the other hand, government agencies and the academe that offered their responses were Larry Nacionales, regional director, Department of Agriculture-VI; Drusila Esther Bayate, regional director, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-VI; Rose Cabrera, director of the Office of Civil Defense, and Dr. Joy Lizada, dean of the College of Management, University of the Philippines-Visayas.
Also present is a representative from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
According to Edwin Balajadia, Negros Area Manager of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), “the climate hearing seeks to bring together the most vulnerable sectors in the community for a story-telling session and to discuss how they can work together to address the climate-related threats to their lives and livelihoods.”
“As such we call it ‘kuwentuhang bayan’. An interaction that would expose the issues of local communities in relation to the risks that they are facing as a result of the changing climate in the local and national levels,” said Balajadia.
Balajadia further added, that “the testimonials from the different sectors would facilitate a comprehensive view and provide a better understanding of the real situation in the community level.”
Among the resource persons in the climate hearing were Melvin Purzuelo, Green Forum-Western Visayas; Jessica Salas, Kahublagan sg Panimalay; and Dr. Hortencia Gardoce of the Workers for the Environment and Health.
In its assessment, observations, and trends presented in the hearing it was revealed that the Western Visayas region have not been insulated from extreme weather patterns as storm surges and soaring hot temperatures have put the region at the center of disasters and natural catastrophes.
According to their presentations, this would hugely affect food production that when remain neglected would worsen food security situation not only in the region but in the country.
Climate change would also worsen our already deficient water supply. The region’s current ground water situation alone demonstrates that we are facing an imminent water crisis especially if climate change remains unmitigated.
Further, its observation illustrates that climate change has direct and indirect effects to human health. One indirect effect is physical injuries brought about by typhoons and infectious diarrhea as a result of deteriorating water quality. The direct effect is death.
Also, it was found out that impacts brought about by climate change have led to an outbreak of vector borne diseases like malaria, cholera, and dengue fever. At the outset of typhoon Frank in Western Visayas in June 2008, it was observed that dengue fever, typhoid fever and other water borne diseases was in its highest.
The output of the climate hearing and ‘kuwentuhang bayan’ will be consolidated as an initial local and regional climate change adaptation agenda.
The activity was organized by the Philippine Network on Climate Change (PNCC) and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) in collaboration with the Western Visayas Network of Social Development NGOs (WEVNET) and Oxfam-Great Britain.