by Bella Cariaso | The Manila Times

BAGUIO City, Ifugao province and Quezon City emerged as the top winners in climate and disaster resiliency recognition awards.

The disaster risk reduction and management offices of Baguio City and Quezon City, and an Ifugao native emerged as top winners in the climate and disaster resiliency recognition awards organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

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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.

 The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through its Climate Change Service and Gender and Development Office, has set new deadlines for submission of entries for this year’s Mga Kwentong KLIMA-likasan Recognition Awards and SINING-likhasan Nationwide Short Film Competition.

The new submission deadlines for the recognition awards  and short film competition  will be on Nov. 15  and 12, respectively. The original deadline for submission of entries for both KLIMA-likasan and SINING-likhasan was Nov. 5.

"Mga Kwentong KLIMA-likasan Resiliency Recognition Awards and the SINING-likhasan Nationwide Short Film Competition are consistent with the DENR's ongoing advocacy to document and publicize good stories in order to create more ripples of hope throughout the country,” said Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, DENR Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems and Climate Change, and Chairperson of the DENR National Gender and Development Focal Point System.

In collaboration with Globe, Mga Kwentong KLIMA-likasan Recognition Awards seek to recognize the stories of individuals, groups, and provincial local government units in addressing climate change and disasters in communities.

Winners of the recognition awards in each category will receive cash prizes. First place will get P50,000 for provincial governments, P40,000 for group category, and P30,000 for individual category, while the second place will get P40,000 for provincial governments, P30,000 for group category, and P20,000 for individual category.

 Cash prizes will also be given to winners of special awards for Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment and Climate Change, and Climate Technology for Resilience: P30,000 for provincial governments, P20,000 for group category, and P10,000 for individual category.

The fields for good stories include community livelihood development, integrated water resources management, coastal/upland protection, critical resilient infrastructure, and climate/disaster information services.

Mga Kwentong KLIMA-likasan Recognition Awards is a support activity to the Good Stories Movement. Selected stories from the submissions will be officially communicated and submitted to the movement.

Good Stories Movement is a global network of people who share the common belief that they can change the story of the world by changing the storyline.

The movement is in search for the stories of good people doing good things for the greater good of the Land, Air, and Waters (LAW) of Life all around the world. It aims to identify the people behind them, highlight the good stories, and recognize and award them for their contributions.

 On the other hand, the SINING-likhasan or Sining para sa Klima at Kalikasan Nationwide Short Film Competition, which is in partnership with the Earth Day Jam Foundation, aims to provide a platform to tell stories of hope, resilience, and adaptation in a changing climate through films.

 The filmmaking competition aims to educate and raise awareness of the public, particularly the youth, about the critical issues of climate change.

It has two categories: filmmaking using mobile phones and filmmaking using more professional devices.

The prizes for the mobile phone category are: P30,000 for the first place, P20,000 for second place and 10,000 for third place. Winners in the  more professional devices category will get P50,000 for first place, P30,000 for second place, and P20,000 for third place.

 The best director and best actor/actress in both categories will be given trophies. Special citations on best cinematography, best music, best sound, best art direction, and best editor will also be given in both categories.

 Winners will be announced and awarded this month as part of the observance of the National Climate Change Consciousness Week (November 19 to 25, with theme- Sama-samang Tumutugon sa Hamon ng Nagbabagong Klima). Details of mechanics are posted on the Facebook pages of DENR Climate Change Service Facebook, and the Earthday Jam Foundation, and their websites (www.climatechange.denr.gov.ph).#

The Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCAM-DRR), chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), will bring to center stage the milestones towards climate and disaster resiliency during the “Duterte Legacy Summit 2022” on May 30.

CCAM-DRR cluster chair and DENR Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna will lead the presentation of the report, outlining how President Duterte’s strong political will has raised the bar for Philippine environmentalism.

“Over the past six years, government initiatives steered the country into the path of climate and disaster resiliency, through the whole of society approach,” Sampulna said, noting how this became more evident during the pandemic.

Anchored on the theme “Change has Come: We Have Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag Na Buhay, the “Duterte Legacy Summit 2022” that will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) will also serve as a culminating activity of the administration’s campaign on promoting its landmark programs and achievements.

The CCAM-DRR report highlights key areas where landmark progress in climate change resiliency were made due to the steps taken by the Duterte administration in building climate and disaster resilience for the affected communities by disasters and climate hazards; transformative actions to halt and reverse nature loss; supporting quality infrastructures to ensure resilience against extreme weather events and other hazards; innovation and technology to improve knowledge, forecasting and readiness for calamities; key management plans to guide the country towards climate resilience.

The environment chief said the Duterte government pursued a convergence strategy “defined by an institutional network of public and private support between government and stakeholders with strong multi-sector orientations and links to the academe and research institutions” as shown in the Boracay and Manila Bay rehabilitation programs, and the rehabilitation efforts in provinces wreaked by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses in November 2020.

Likewise in particular is the coastal town of Del Carmen in Siargao whose residents did not experience as much devastation during the typhoon because of the massive mangrove reforestation and were able to quickly recover from Typhoon Odette, according to Del Carmen Fisherfolk Association (DCFA) secretary Judilyn Arreza,

DFCA is a peoples’ organization taking part of the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP) since 2016 and, according to Arreza, the town’s healthy environment was key in their economic sustainability especially in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette and the imposition of the lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic, noting catch yield of DFCA’s members has increased to as much as P1,000 per day on top of the economic benefits they get from Del Carmen’s ecotourism activities. ###