The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Climate Change Service (CCS) and Gender and Development Office, and in partnership with Globe held a virtual ceremony to declare the winning entries of Mga Kwentong KLIMA-likasan: A Climate and Disaster Resiliency Recognition Awards on November 24, 2022. This is in line with the celebration of the 2022 National Climate Change Consciousness Week themed, "Sama-Samang Tumutugon sa Hamon ng Nagbabagong Klima.”
"Our recognition scheme aims to feature the long track record and important contributions and initiatives in the environment, climate change, and disaster risk management." DENR CCS Director Elenida Basug said.
The three categories were: individual, group and local government unit (LGU) and the two special citations were: Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, and Climate Change Award and Climate Technology for Resilience Award. Six entries were awarded with major prizes and 6 entries with special citations.
First place in the individual category is Moises H. Butic for the entry “The Ifugao Muyong: Perpetuating a Forest Legacy”. Proudly nominated by the Chief Executive of Ifugao Province Jerry U. Dalipog, Mr. Butic’s story is about the indigenous practice inherited by the Ifugaos from their ancestors called “Muyong System” which is a forest management system that supports biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation. Mr. Butic won a cash prize of Php 30,000 for this inspiring story.
The Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) bagged first place and the Climate Technology for Resilience Special Citation in the group category for their entry “iRISE UP” (Intelligent, Resilient, and Integrated Systems for the Urban Population). iRISE UP is an early warning system that organizes, streamlines the DRRM information system of Quezon City so that advisories are quickly disseminated to communities. Php 60,000 was awarded to the group for this innovation.
First place and the Climate Technology for Resilience Special Citation in the local government unit (LGU) category was Baguio’s City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) for “The Baguio City Smart Gender-inclusive flood early warning information and mitigation system” which is a project that took a holistic, nature-based, gender-sensitive, and socially-inclusive approach to address the city’s challenges. CDRRMO brought home the Php 80,000 cash prize.
Other major prize winners and special citation awardees were as follows:
2nd place, individual category - Leopoldo N. Bataoil from the Municipality of Lingayen, Pangasinan for “The Rebirth of our Philippine Ylang-ylang” winner of Php 20,000 cash prize
2nd place, group category – Kabasalan National High School’s Youth for Environment in Schools Organization of Balintawak, Pagadian City for “Adopt-a-watershed program” winner of Php 30,000 cash prize
2nd place, LGU category - Provincial Local Government Unit of Cagayan for “Restoring Cagayan River: A H.O.P.E. to Build Back Life Better” winner of Php 40,000 cash prize
Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, and Climate Change Award, individual – Grachelle Andrea B. Guevarra for “I CAN make a difference”, winner of Php 10,000 cash prize
Climate Technology and Resilience Award, individual category – Reheemah Hafsah Pangarungan for “BioPhil”, winner of Php 10,000 cash prize
Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, and Climate Change Award was obtained by Bayawon Lucday Lungayan Pendonay Tandacol Tribal Association, Inc. (BLLuPenTTrAs, Inc.) for “The Glimpse of P.O BLLUPENTTRAS Initiatives and Best Practices in Fighting Climate Change”, winner of a total of Php 20,000 cash prize for the special citation.s
Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, and Climate Change Award, LGU category – Baliwag, Bulacan LGU for “Baliwag Environmental Convergence Program”, winner of Php 30,000 cash prize
"The stories that we received from 16 regions in the country only say one thing: there are already significant actions happening on the ground. We need to take note of them, document them, map them and see how we can scale up the initiatives to expand to other areas in their community." Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems and Climate Change Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh said.
Over 60 entries from the 16 regions of the country were received and the selected stories shall be submitted to the Good stories movement, a global initiative lead by people who aim to recognize the “good stories of good people who are caring for the Land, Air, and Water (LAW) of Life.”
All entries were evaluated based on the following criteria: Climate and Disaster Resiliency Content (60%), Visual appeal of the photographs and video (20%), Gender fair text and media (10%), and Geographical reach of the initiative (10%).
The board of judges is composed of Commissioner Atty. Rachel Anne S. Herrera of Climate Change Commission; Ms. Raquel de Leon of the Office of Civil Defense; and Climate Action Expert Mr. Aldrin Bayangos of Globe Telecom, Inc.
