Author: climaterealityph

Youth participation critical in resilience building

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date August 1, 2022
6 Comments on Youth participation critical in resilience building

Youth participation critical in resilience building

August 1, 2022

Quezon City—Policymakers and local chief executives should ensure the meaningful participation of the youth in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation programs and initiatives, experts and youth climate activists said during the National Disaster Resilience Month episode of the Stories for a Better Reality webcast series.

Stories For A Better Reality is a partnership between the Climate Change Commission and the Youth Cluster of The Climate Reality Project Philippines, with support from the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Youth Commission, and Kids for Kids and Wavefarers.

“Ang mga kabataan ay parte ng komunidad at lahat ng sakop ng isang komunidad ay dapat nakikilahok. Habang bata pa, dapat ay maisapuso ng mga bata at maging ugali nila ang mga tamang gawi ukol sa climate change at disaster risk reduction,” Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay, Executive Director of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI), said during the webcast.

Capacitating and engaging youth on DRRM and climate action

Acknowledging the significance of youth engagement in formulating more relevant programs to address their needs for survival, development, and protection, Kamille Ruiz shared that United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been involved on institutionalizing the participation of children and youth in resilience building.

Ruiz is a Disaster Risk Reduction Programme Officer at UNICEF Philippines and is involved in the implementation of the Kabataang Resilient Program to capacitate the youth on DRRM. Its major components include documentation and promotion of youth-centered initiatives, peer learning on climate action and DRRM, development of knowledge products on disaster and climate programs for local implementers, and conduct of inclusive consultations with the children and youth.

“We have less capacity to act during disasters. We are less informed on the effects of the disasters,” Jayson Genotiva, one of the youth leaders of the Kabataang Resilient Program, said.

Chelzy Anne Binondo, another youth leader of the Kabataang Resilient Program, agreed with Genotiva but added, “When children are capacitated and given chance to participate, our micro efforts may yield greater impacts on the community.”

As beneficiaries of UNICEF’s training programs, Binondo and Genotiva believed that engaging more youth should start and thrive with creative strategies and platforms.

Ruiz encouraged youth to maximize available spaces while communicating their needs, speaking about their experiences, and presenting their ideas.

For Ma. Louisen Roxas, Project and Partnership Manager of MapaKalamidad.ph, the youth have the number, energy, and resourcefulness to advance and expand their capacities on DRR and stewardship of the planet.

MapaKalamidad.ph is a free web-based and open-source platform that harnesses the power of social media during emergency events to gather real-time and on-the-ground updates.

While aiming to mobilize netizens to report and inform communities about real-time disasters, MapaKalamidad.ph hosted the Disaster Risk Reduction Youth Ambassador Program to establish a network of young Filipino leaders focusing on community-based disaster risk reduction. It has also provided microgrants to youth-led disaster awareness and preparedness activities, such as first-aid training and SOS Kit distribution, mapping of disaster-related facilities, and improvement of disaster response plans.

“As one of the young advocates, we can be more and do more,” Binondo said. She underscored the need for safe spaces where the youth could freely elevate their concerns and claim their agency in resilience building.

Integrating youth-centered initiatives in national programs

“Climate change is already unfolding its impacts. Youth are at the forefront of capacities. You have a different voice. It matters that the particularity of your voice is being maximized sa mga spaces,” Director Ronilda Co of the DepEd’s DRRM Service said while encouraging the youth to channel their voices into a meaningful action that will benefit the greater good.

The national government, according to Co, is undertaking efforts to mainstream youth participation in DRRM programs, projects, and activities.

For one, DepEd launched The Green Beat Initiative which delivers online environmental journalism training for campus journalists and school paper advisers. The agency also has the Student-Led School Watching and Hazard Mapping where students are equipped with information and skills necessary for addressing the impact of hazards.

These initiatives highlight the significance of including youth in co-creating solutions relevant to climate change and DRRM.

disaster response, disaster risk reduction and management, resilience, youth

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Tags disaster response, disaster risk reduction and management, resilience, youth

Hisgutanang Klima sa Mindanao

Hisgutanang Klima sa Mindanao: Green, sustainable, and low-carbon buildings

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date July 31, 2022

Hisgutanang Klima sa Mindanao: Green, sustainable, and low-carbon buildings

By Marisol Tuso

July 31, 2022

Inspired by a brilliant idea of a young Climate Reality Leader in Mindanao, I would like to focus my discussion on a promising global solution to climate change, yet still adopted by a few in the Philippines compared to other Asian countries.

In Mindanao, more than 70% of the Climate Reality Leaders belong to the youth sector. They form part of different organizations and are driving actions in their respective schools and communities, including but not limited to clean-up drives, tree planting activities, waste segregation campaigns, youth parliament conferences, and campaigns for climate-related policies.

The Philippine Green Building Code, a Referral Code of the National Building Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 1096), was launched in 2015 requiring all new buildings in the country to conform to ecologically-sound building standards.

Buildings are one of the top biggest sources of carbon emissions in the world accounting for almost 40 percent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, due to high energy consumption, especially in urban areas. Hence, buildings designed to be environmentally friendly, are considered sustainable solutions to the climate crisis.

It has been six (6) years since the launch of the Green Building Code but only a few new green buildings were certified, representing less than two (2) percent of the country’s total constructed floor area.

Inspired by his climate advocacy, young Climate Reality Leader Israelbelle Ferolino, together with his classmates, has designed a green building, which will soon be built as the first green building in the province of Bukidnon.

Israelbelle and his friends Jintfrey Arvey Manatad, Mary Jane Maque, Kharl Karen Romeo, and Mary Hazel Salem designed the building and presented the Capstone entitled, “Green Building Design of Two-Storey Restaurant at Kibangay, Lantapan, Bukindon.”

The architectural design optimizes energy use and production. It is designed with a solar power system, with 44 solar panels to provide electricity for energy efficiency. The building also utilizes a rainwater harvesting system, a 15-square meter solid waste disposal area, and the use of sustainable materials such as amakan (woven bamboo wall cladding), polywood, and concrete pavers.

Following the presentation of the capstone and the approval of its design, Israelbelle and his co-designers completed their course on Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Central Mindanao University. Their design will soon be built by a prominent family in the province.

Asked about what inspired them to work on the green design, Israelbelle said he wanted to inspire innovation in the local community. “It has only been six years since the Philippine Green Building Code was put in place, and as such, there are only limited buildings in the country with green building designs,” he added.

“As one of the most impacted countries by climate change and induced catastrophes, the Philippines has to step up its fight against the climate crisis, and designing green buildings will set a good example that others can follow,” Israelbelle said.

The team also thought of addressing a community problem—the damaging effects of construction. The construction industry utilizes 40 percent of the total global energy production, 16 percent of all accessible water, 32 percent of non-renewable resources, 25 percent of all timber, 40 percent of all raw materials, creates 30-40 percent of all solid waste, and emits 35-40 percent of carbon dioxide (Berardi, 2013, Son et. al, 2011).

One way to solve this problem is by green building design which seeks to address adverse environmental effects by promoting environmentally responsible construction practices and building schemes that reduce carbon footprint through energy and resource efficiency. With the high cost of electricity in the Philippines, renewable energy will play a key role in designing green buildings.

The demand for designing green buildings is increasing in highly urbanized cities but it is still unpopular in the provinces. I hope that initiatives from Climate Reality Leaders in Mindanao will inspire planners and designers to go for green building designs to save the planet.

***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marisol is the Mindanao Coordinator of The Climate Reality Project Philippines. She has been working in the development sector for 16 years. She is a specialist in training, institution and community development, information, education, and communication (IEC), and gender and social inclusion. Aside from being a broadcast journalist since 1997, she also served as the Project Coordinator of the Global Fund for Malaria Component Project for 10 years and as Training and IEC Specialist of the Philippine Cold Chain Project.

ABOUT HISGUTANANG KLIMA SA MINDANAO

Hisgutanang Klima or “Climate Discussions” is a space that aims to amplify the climate stories and initiatives of the more than 100 Pinoy Climate Reality Leaders in Mindanao.

It is one of the monthly columns launched by The Climate Reality Project Philippines to elevate the climate discourse and strengthen climate action across all regions in the Philippines.

green buildings, mindanao

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Tags green buildings, mindanao

Klima Kabisayaan

Klima Kabisayaan: Mapping out community-based climate action initiatives

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date July 31, 2022

Klima Kabisayaan: Mapping out community-based climate action initiatives

By Paula Bernasor

July 31, 2022

Giving back to your local community and furthering your mission is one of the greatest joys of being a Climate Reality Leader. With over 300 Climate Reality Leaders in the Visayas, how do we know what everyone is up to?

As we approach the third quarter of the year, the Climate Reality Leaders in the Visayas took the time to have a community check and to map out the needs in the region.

Community needs are gaps between what programs currently exist and what programs should be in place. Mapping out current programs or initiatives provides a framework for developing and identifying solutions and building linkages that support and nurture fellow Climate Reality Leaders in the Visayas.

For the July Hangout, we mapped out existing programs and initiatives across the Visayas to improve and boost sustainable impact in our communities.

First, we mapped out local issues and identified the following:

Unsustainable development of cities;
Lack of information dissemination on the relationship between health and climate change;
Low understanding of the general public about basic information on climate science and the impacts of climate change;
Lack of green industries, especially in Eastern Visayas;
Rampant conversion of forest lands;
Community displacement due to landslides, soil erosion, and storm surges; and
Lack of proper water management.

Second, we identified ongoing initiatives and projects we are involved in:

Adoption of UN FAO voluntary guidelines for small-scale fisheries;
Farm-to-fashion model for creating sustainable local textiles;
Popularizing of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment in local development plans;
Organization of youth workshop on Sustainable Fisheries;
Organization of three big events this year (April, August, and November) that will engage the Sangguniang Kabataan on inclusion and diversity in the context of climate change adaptation;
Planning of municipal-wide agroforest greenbelt;
Pushing for the inclusion of renewable energy at least for critical facilities in the local governments’ Comprehensive Development Plans; and
Mainstreaming the sustainable use of landscapes through the Comprehensive Land Use Plans.

Third, we discussed where Climate Reality Leaders in the Visayas needed support and the following were identified:

Grant opportunities and grant writing support;
Training workshops to help capacitate volunteers;
Sharing of best practices, policies, work plans to implement projects in their own areas; and
Information, education, and communication (IEC) materials for distribution in community areas

Lastly, we asked what else could be done for the rest of the year to have more impact and we listed three (3) main initiatives:

Creating and translating IEC materials to fit the local communities;
Implement a Sustainable Festival Visayas to promote sustainable lifestyles, feature sustainable products, and share best practices; and
Piloting sustainable island development in one of the islands in the Philippines.

The mapping helped us create new ideas and synergies. I am definitely looking forward to August and all the new local partnerships being forged from the Visayas. I am equally excited about the next steps for the three (3) main initiatives and will definitely update once we have everything set.

“Working together on solving something requires a high level of humility and a high level of self-awareness.”

- Paul Polman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paula Bernasor is the Visayas Coordinator of The Climate Reality Project Philippines. She is a Climate Reality Philippines Leader and Mentor, Chapter Director for Startup Grind Cebu, and a volunteer for Project Sharklink and Thresher Shark Research and Conservation Project. She previously worked as an Associate for Partnerships for Rare Organisation’s Fish Forever in the Philippines. She started Project Library in the Philippines, a grassroots movement that helps underprivileged communities in remote areas gain access to books and reading materials, as well as Ocean Love Philippines, which uses social media to spread awareness on pressing environmental issues and to promote a sustainable lifestyle and the circular economy.

ABOUT KLIMA KABISAYAAN

Klima Kabisayaan is a space that aims to amplify the climate stories and initiatives of the more than 300 Pinoy Climate Reality Leaders in Visayas.

It is one of the monthly columns launched by The Climate Reality Project Philippines to elevate the climate discourse and strengthen climate action across all regions in the Philippines.

Visayas

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Tags Visayas

Ang Kalusunan Columns

Ang Kalusunan: Pursuing disaster risk reduction and management

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date July 31, 2022

Ang Kalusunan: Pursuing disaster risk reduction and management

By Aimee Oliveros

July 31, 2022

It’s been over 30 years since the devastating earthquake in my hometown Baguio. I remember that I just got home from my pre-school class, it was just me and our boarder Kuya Rick at home since my parents were both working while my siblings were in school. I thought Kuya Rick was intentionally shaking the house. I remember calling him out to stop because I was getting dizzy.

I had no idea what was happening; I don’t remember feeling scared but just confused and even curious. The next thing I remember was being grabbed by Kuya Rick and we were running outside of our house. As we were on our way out, I saw my father on the top of our stairs and he had blood on the back of his shirt; he had this worried look that I can still remember until now. That was the time that I got profoundly scared. We camped outdoors in a vacant lot with our neighbors. The nights were cold but I remember feeling warm thanks to my long red-striped coat and the comforting embrace from my mother. We prayed the rosary every night. I prayed extra hard for the aftershocks to go away because I can feel how scared we all were.

It was only years after this that I would have a clearer picture of what happened to my beloved city—buildings were completely destroyed, the cost of damages was millions worth, and thousands of lives were claimed, some of them would have been the same age as me.

It is still very painful to see the pictures or hear news about this even until now. The memories came rolling back just last week when another earthquake hit Baguio and the northern part of Luzon. You will never completely get over the trauma. You just forget it for a bit but it will find its way to the surface and will still haunt you.

According to UNICEF, one billion children are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis. Children and the younger generation are extremely vulnerable to the devastations caused by disasters and climate change. The risks of disasters have increased over years, and the impact and frequency of these extreme weather conditions will likely continue to increase.

The disruption caused by climate change will affect children’s health, wellbeing, safety, education, and of course their future. As young as they are, they will be compelled to face the harsh realities and deal with the dangers, most especially in climate and disaster-vulnerable areas.

Surviving these disasters is one thing, but living through them is another story. Proactive action, support, and education are necessary to build resilience, strength, and knowledge among the younger generation. After all, they are not only victims. They also play a critical role in climate action, disaster risk reduction, and the future of our one and only home.

The Do’s and Dont’s

As we celebrate National Disaster Resiliency Month this July, it is critical for Climate Reality Leaders and advocates to understand their critical role in climate action and disaster risk reduction. This month we asked our leaders in Luzon, “How should we prepare for climate change disasters?”

“Climate Change is no longer subtle; everyone is responsible to take care of themselves and to look after the welfare of people around them. Climate disaster is taking place almost every day and everywhere. Preparedness should be a way of life. Be a wise consumer. Don’t waste food, energy, and everything that we need daily. Always keep a moderate stock of food and medicine during storms or rainy season. Don’t expect to be led, but be a leader. Help the authorities in disseminating info on flood warning, possible rain induced landslide and the like. Know the alert levels on flood and make it a habit to wear on your body whistles (silbato) to be used in case of emergency. Do not believe that you live in a safe place, disaster has no boundaries and it is your duty to keep yourself safe. Wherever you are, know the location of escape plan. Help keep the community clean to prevent spread of disease. Take note of the need of the elderlies, the sick and babies in your home. Animals and pets need to be saved too. Try to keep calm. Maintain a healthy body.”

– Lena Vergara, 2020 Global Training

“Help our agency's stakeholders or the MSMEs to create their business continuity plans that are also green, inclusive, and sustainable.”

– Nikki Limlengco, 2021 Global Training

“Having experienced disaster response work beginning with Sendong in CDO in 2011, all the way to Typhoon Lawin in October 2016, I realized that the work is more often a reactive initiative and remains daunting for all responders, from logistics to the very specific response one’s organization will choose to do (in my case it has always been about shelter and at times donor dependent too). After Yolanda, our organization decided to embark on a proactive stance regarding disastersmm especially with typhoons since this specific disaster can be predicted and organizations such as ours and other like-minded NGOs and civil society organizations seemed in synch with this idea sometime in 2013. Hence, “prepositioning” became a by-word and the actual position. The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), and other international non-government organizations and civil society groups found themselves in coordination meeting days before a typhoon hits the country. Each INGO/NGO would commit itself in specific areas where the typhoon is expected to landfall and will respond according to the immediate needs of the area after a so-called DANA (Damage Needs Assessment). During “peace time” (prior to any predicted typhoon), our organization usually conduct Disaster Preparedness initiatives among vulnerable communities. We usually gather community leaders and members, let them identify real threats in their areas, let them create an escape route, let them create their own Early Warning System to properly warn the community, let them identify community resources for their immediate inventory so they can at least estimate if said resources can help their community members survive (no. of days apart from their GoBags), etc. All of these we try to conduct prior to any disaster so that every partner community will be prepared and casualties are eliminated, if not minimized. We always make sure that every community, given the context of their most common disaster, is prepared. The key word is being PRO-ACTIVE instead of being REACTIVE when it comes to Climate Change Disasters.”

– Rommel Miles Corro, 2016 Manila Training

The Highs and Lows

This month, we continued with our regional hang-out with Climate Reality Leaders from National Capital Region (NCR), home to over 650 Climate Reality Leaders. This session was incredibly intimate with the reunion of mostly Climate Reality Leaders trained in 2016.

Zandro Amador is an advocate of active mobility and supports the shift away from the car-centric mentality and towards mass transportation to reduce carbon footprint and mitigate the climate impacts.

Arnel Caranto is a media practitioner, content developer and currently engaged with climate and ecological work with his current organization Life, Inc. He shared about his experience about organizing house party events (now 24 hours of Reality) way back in 2007 as well as his work in developing educational materials on climate change and environment through comic books to support the education of students and teachers.

Rommel Miles Corro shared about his latest climate talk in San Beda College Alabang to new faculty members and administrators, where he was formerly connected prior to joining the social development space. He is actively engaged in green mass housing, advocating for green architecture, and exploring biophilic designs. He is an advocate of renewable energy and active mobility; he is passionate about being a long-standing bike commuter.

Lanie Francisco shared about how she started to learn about the impacts of climate change when she started learning about organic farming and working with farmers. This led her to learn more about fertilizing the land, utilizing the use of ipa or bran, and eventually started bokashi composting to support the environment and communities through livelihood programs. She is currently working with different organizations to teach the system of bokashi composting.

Nikki Limlengco recently worked on a feature about MSMEs in line with her work in DTI Trade Training Center. She recently completed a training needs assessment to support MSMEs particularly in the food sector to better support their livelihood and strengthen LGU coordination. She is also in post-production for a documentary that she is currently working on about a community in Tawi-Tawi.

Vicky Segovia recently represented Philippine Women’s University and the National Council of Women of the Philippines to support the marine coral rehabilitation project in the Verde Island passage. She is likewise engaged in promoting carbon assessment and carbon neutrality in different universities and schools. She is actively engaged in planning for the State of the Nature Assessment in Bacolod with local universities and organizations, as well as the National Conference on the role of women in climate change advocacy in the Philippines.

Corazon Siya was previously a Barangay Kagawad working with her community and the local government unit. She is currently working on bamboo planting and mangrove conservation in her province in Iloilo to avoid erosion and create a sanctuary for the fishes.

Lena Vergara is a retired government employee of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board for over 40 years. She shares her success story for over 25 years about composting her household kitchen waste using newspapers, recycled brown bags, and coco peat as an act of reducing her carbon footprint. She is also an active cyclist and would continue to do this as she can to promote sustainable mobility.

As a pre-work for this regional hang-out, we asked the Climate Reality Leaders what they consider as top climate issues within their cities and there’s consistency on solid waste management, weather disturbances, extreme heat, flooding, increasing cost on electricity and fuel, water insufficiency and pollution.

Since the attendees are from Metro Manila area then opportunities to engage in climate action was identified through direct engagement, particularly in the academe, other socio-civic groups as well as local government units.

The discussion also stressed the importance of leading by example and understanding that climate change also requires behavioral change actions. It’s interesting to see how the next sessions would bring about more connections and collaborations. Watch this space and connect with us!

What’s in store for #LuzonLeaders?

Join our upcoming online regional hangout on 18 August 2022 with Climate Reality Leaders in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Ilocos and Cagayan Valley Regions.

We would love to hear from you! Do you have any climate questions but are too afraid to ask, or maybe just a comment in our monthly column, just email me at aimee.oliveros.ph@climatereality.com.

***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aimee is the Luzon Coordinator of The Climate Reality Project Philippines. She is a human resources professional with over 10 years of corporate work experience in different local and multinational industries. With her experience in organizational development, training and employee engagement, Aimee is deeply passionate about promoting learning and wellbeing. She is a Climate Reality Leader having joined the 2020 Global training which solidified her inner passion for community work and service. Being an advocate for the environment, she co-founded RE-Store MNL, a small shop promoting refill and reuse in Paranaque City. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences at the University of the Philippines Baguio.

ABOUT ANG KALUSUNAN

Ang Kalusunan or the “Northern Part” is a space that aims to amplify the climate stories and initiatives of the more than 1,200 Pinoy Climate Reality Leaders in Luzon.

It is one of the monthly columns launched by The Climate Reality Project Philippines to elevate the climate discourse and strengthen climate action across all regions in the Philippines.

climate disasters, disaster response, disaster risk reduction and management, luzon

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Tags climate disasters, disaster response, disaster risk reduction and management, luzon

#RealiTalk Blog Feature

#RealiTalk: Schools Safety Month with Pinoy Climate Reality Leader Bernardo Sepeda

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date July 30, 2022
1 Comment on #RealiTalk: Schools Safety Month with Pinoy Climate Reality Leader Bernardo Sepeda

#RealiTalk: Schools Safety Month with Pinoy Climate Reality Leader Bernardo Sepeda

July 30, 2022

This month in #RealiTalk, Dr. Bernardo Sepeda walked us through the impacts of the climate crisis on educational institutions in the country.

A Lasallian religious educator and formator since 1991, Dr. Sepeda is currently the Dean of Student Services and Mission of De La Salle Araneta University and an associate member of the National Research Council of the Philippines. An active Climate Reality Leader, he served as a mentor during Climate Reality Leadership Corps Global Traning last October 2021.

In this feature, Dr. Sepeda shared how De La Salle Araneta University has embedded sustainability, climate action, and disaster risk reduction into its curriculum and operations.

How is the prevailing climate crisis affecting educational institutions in the country? How are climate change impacts (such as extreme weather events, rising seas, ocean acidification, rising temperatures, and changing rainfall patterns) affecting our students and the education system as a whole?

According to the World Population Review, the Philippines is ranked 55th (three steps down from the previous year) in 2022 in the Education Rankings. I believe that the climate crisis especially extreme weather events are contributory factors to the deteriorating state of education in our country, particularly in the area of teaching and learning for the following reasons:

1. When it is the wet season, we have more class suspensions due to stronger typhoons and flooding which lead to fewer opportunities for teaching and learning, ergo, lower aptitude among our students.

2. When it is dry season, we use more air conditioning units that emit more harmful gases into the atmosphere and we all know its effect on the environment. This leads to higher tuition fees which made quality education less accessible to more students. Hence, the public school system is over-populated, which leads to teachers having less contact/interaction with students due to the sheer number of learners needing guidance. This leads to mediocrity especially in the field of reading, science, and mathematics because these areas need more hands-on guidance from the teacher.

Are there systems/ programs in place to ensure that universities in the country are equipped to deal with climate-related disasters? Moreover, how is your organization De La Salle Araneta University integrating sustainability into your operations?

Each university implements in various ways the requirement set by law to respond to climate-related emergencies. Training on disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) among students and faculty is regularly conducted to ensure that the academic community is ready. Committees/Offices/Units are established to ensure the implementation of said programs and activities such as but not limited to CLAYGO, zero plastic policy, recyclable water system, and tree planting activities. However, it is the integration in the whole curriculum of the values of climate justice/environmental awareness/caring for the environment that is the key for me. What I mean is that the values mentioned are not only additional topics but embedded in the very vision-mission of each institution.

As a university whose pilot programs are in the field of agricultural sciences, we have implemented a zero-waste management model in our Salikneta Farm, the laboratory of our BS in Agriculture. We also put in place a model farm that features various methods of urban farming which became the laboratory of our Integrated School Students in their subject on agriculture. We also integrated into our curriculum the values of environmental justice and care especially in Christian Living and Science subjects. We also offer specialized courses like Environmental Science in tertiary education. We even offer MS and PhD in Environmental Sciences.

While our educational institutions are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, they play a key role in climate action. What is the role of education in ensuring a low-carbon and climate-resilient future?

The most basic role of educational institutions is really to continue raising climate change consciousness and ensure effective truth-telling to combat the proliferation of disinformation on the matter. Second is modeling, i.e., being at the forefront of making the school community and its operation and processes carbon-neutral and climate-resilient.

The integration of values related to the care for the environment and creation is deeply embedded in our curriculum, especially in the Christian Living, Sciences, Social Studies, TLE, and Agriculture subjects. It is also part of our vision and mission statement. The challenge is really on the consistency of the actual living out of the values taught inside the four walls of the school. This is where the whole community approach will come in. The involvement of the parents, families, and outside community members is as important as the teaching and learning activities inside the school premises.

What are the other initiatives of De La Salle Araneta University in terms of strengthening climate change education in the country? How can we cultivate environmental awareness and sustainable living in schools?

In order for us to ensure that environmental awareness and sustainable living are rooted in our school community, it really starts with the incorporation of these values into the vision and mission of the schools. They should not be just added as a token response to the effect of climate change today. Once they are part of the vision and mission of the school, all the strategic plans and process follows. That way, we can ensure that a culture of love and care for the environment will be imparted into the hearts and minds of the whole academic community.

climate change adaptation, climate change mitigation, climate education, disaster risk reduction, schools, sustainability

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Press Releases

GEOP lowers electricity bills for business enterprises

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date July 26, 2022
2 Comments on GEOP lowers electricity bills for business enterprises

GEOP lowers electricity bills for business enterprises

July 26, 2022

Quezon City—Availing the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) will bring significant savings on the electricity costs of business enterprises, a representative of Vita Tropic Ice Company, Inc. said during The Climate Reality Project Philippines’ energy literacy and movement-building training session held earlier this month.

Vita Tropic is among the few and first GEOP switchers in the country. GEOP is the government’s new policy mechanism that allows electricity end-users with an average 100kW or above to source their electricity from renewable energy sources.

Amid the volatility of fossil fuel costs in the global market and the unreliability of coal-fired power plants in the country as exemplified by frequent power outages for areas connected to the grid, GEOP gives consumers the power to make their operations more competitive by veering away from coal.

David Co, Head of Business Development in Vita Tropic Ice Company, Inc., shared during one of REalTalk’s virtual sessions his company’s experience in registering to GEOP.

“On our first month alone, the savings were already significant. With the uncertainty and continuous rising cost of fuel, the traditional electricity rate has gone off. Our savings are becoming larger. It also feels great to know that 100% of our energy is from green energy sources. Because we made the switch, we are saving so much so soon enough we might be able to save enough money for expansion,” David Co, Head of Business Development in Vita Tropic, emphasized during one of the virtual sessions of REalTalk: A Communications and Movement Building Workshop on Renewable Energy.

“Imagine the difference if many businesses will join GEOP. We are saving money by having electricity sourced from 100% RE. We are paving the way to reduce CO2 emissions and prevent global warming. We are helping the Philippines transition into a more sustainable future,” Co added.

REalTalk is part of Climate Reality Philippines’ RE Energize PH initiative, which is supported by the Tara Climate Foundation. The program is organized in partnership with AktivAsia, a non-profit organization composed of educators and facilitators who support organizers and activists in Asia. To date, three (3) virtual sessions and three-day in-person training have been conducted.

Alberto Dalusung III, Energy Transition Advisor at the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, discussed the high prices of imported coal that dominates the Philippine energy mix.

High electricity costs in the Philippines

“The Philippines has one of the highest power rates in the ASEAN Region because of its dependence on imported fossil fuels,” Atty. Pedro Maniego, Jr., Senior Policy Advisor at the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, said during one of the REaltalk virtual sessions.

Alberto Dalusung III, Energy Transition Advisor at the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, identified generation cost as the most expensive and largest component of electricity bills causing power rates to shoot up.

The generation sector deploys combinations of powerplants to meet the variability of load demand. While the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 aims to promote the development, utilization, and commercialization of renewable energy, coal remains to dominate the power generation mix among all Philippine grids.

Jephraim Manansala, the Chief Data Scientist at the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, explained that Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids are mainly powered by coal, alongside fossil gas, hydroelectric, and geothermal.

Coal and geothermal are considered baseload power plants that generate consistent power to meet the minimum daily demand but are inflexible to adjust outputs vis-à-vis the variability of the load demand. Meanwhile, fossil gas is an example of an intermediate power plant that meets the variability of load demand but entails higher construction costs.

“Kailangan nating mag-shift from the usual baseload paradigm kung saan priority ang coal. Dito sa bagong sistema na dapat nating i-advocate, priority dapat ang solar at wind kasi sila yung may pinakamurang operational cost. Sila yung makakapagbigay sa atin ng pinakamurang kuryente,” Manansala explained.

Climate Reality Leaders and volunteers crafted a GEOP campaign during a three-day in-person workshop at Sakahang Lilok, a small organic farm and retreat facility in Tanay, Rizal operating on sustainable agriculture, zero-waste and circular economy practices, and solar-powered energy.

Accessibility, reliability, and profitability of renewable energy

Solar and wind power plants are examples of variable power plants that have cheap operational costs and zero marginal costs.

“Renewable energy sources are much cheaper compared to the rising price of coal. It also provides cheaper and more reliable power in the small island-grids in the Philippines,” Atty. Maniego stated.

Atty. Maniego added that the country needs a just transition to renewable energy, specifically leaning toward grid-connected solar and wind plants because of their less frequent outages than coal-powered plants.

“The unreliability of coal-fired power plants is the direct cause of rotating brownouts and the high cost of electricity during summer 2021 and 2022. Variable power plants historically reduced the price of electricity during the peak hours by 28% despite only having a 3% share in the energy mix,” he mentioned.

Sara Jane Ahmed, the Founder and Executive Director of Financial Futures Center, noted that a shift toward cleaner energy is happening globally, with over 145 globally significant financial institutions announcing coal exclusion policies and over 50 beginning to include oil and gas drilling exclusions.

Movement building for GEOP

Ruziel Larmae Gimpaya, the Manager for Corporate Strategy and Program Management at Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), said that there are currently 95 applicants in the pipeline for GEOP.

Building on the success story of Vita Tropic, Climate Reality Philippines, together with its roster of volunteers, has crafted a campaign to encourage more eligible entities to sign up to GEOP.

***

energy, energy transition, GEOP, renewable energy, sustainable energy and mobility

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08Apr

Tags energy, energy transition, GEOP, renewable energy, sustainable energy and mobility

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