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increasing the resilience and adaptive capacities of communities especially children in the covered areas. areas. covered the in children especially communities of capacities adaptive and resilience the increasing

minimize the damage brought about by natural and human-induced hazards through developing and/or and/or developing through hazards human-induced and natural by about brought damage the minimize

s, 40 fisher’s groups, and 40 children’s groups to to groups children’s 40 and groups, fisher’s 40 s, school high 14 schools, elementary 58 units, ernment

The project seeks to build the capacities of the four municipal government units, 56 village gov- village 56 units, government municipal four the of capacities the build to seeks project The tices.

oriented CRM project in the islands that incorporates child-centered DRR and CCA prac- CCA and DRR child-centered incorporates that islands the in project CRM oriented

climate and disaster risk reduction reduction risk disaster and climate a implemented has Philippines Plan Thus, risks. climate

the importance of mitigating potential disasters and and disasters potential mitigating of importance the consideration into taking without situation economic

other local efforts were focused on preserving the environment and improving people’s livelihood and and livelihood people’s improving and environment the preserving on focused were efforts local other

ject to respond to the realities of climate change and disasters in the islands. However, this project and and project this However, islands. the in disasters and change climate of realities the to respond to ject

ked on a coastal resources management (CRM) pro- (CRM) management resources coastal a on ked embar have CGI the in units government local The

Response The

pation in preparedness, mitigation, and environmental sustainability. sustainability. environmental and mitigation, preparedness, in pation

the Camotes islands, children can and are able to contribute to strengthening resilience through partici- through resilience strengthening to contribute to able are and can children islands, Camotes the

evident in the programs and activities of Plan in in Plan of activities and programs the in evident As hazards. other and change climate by caused disaster

most resilient groups of stakeholders who can play significant roles in preventing or minimizing risks of of risks minimizing or preventing in roles significant play can who stakeholders of groups resilient most

r parents. Despite the odds, children are one of the the of one are children odds, the Despite parents. r thei of livelihood of sources the on change climate

expected. Increasing poverty is also another problem that affects children due to the negative impacts of of impacts negative the to due children affects that problem another also is poverty Increasing expected.

ess, and heat-related illness and fatalities also are are also fatalities and illness heat-related and ess, illn pollution-related air diseases, infectious sensitive

degraded due to climate change. Increased climate- Increased change. climate to due degraded is environment their when affected also are Children

verted into evacuation camps. They can also experience trauma, hunger, sickness and displacement. displacement. and sickness hunger, trauma, experience also can They camps. evacuation into verted

of proper facilities when their classrooms are con- are classrooms their when facilities proper of lack to due event disaster a after schools of out drop

most affected and suffer the most. Most children children Most most. the suffer and affected most groups the of one often are children disasters, During

Impacts on Children Children on Impacts

lihoods of the farmers and fishers in the island. island. the in fishers and farmers the of lihoods live of source and properties of destruction cause

and small tornados, the severity and frequency of which is exacerbated by climate change. These hazards hazards These change. climate by exacerbated is which of frequency and severity the tornados, small and

by hazards like typhoons, flash floods, storm surges surges storm floods, flash typhoons, like hazards by affected annually also is CGI reduction. risk disaster

e on climate change mitigation / adaptation and on on and adaptation / mitigation change climate on e knowledg of lack resources, coastal of protection

for alternative livelihood, and a lack of awareness of the people of the importance of preservation and and preservation of importance the of people the of awareness of lack a and livelihood, alternative for

area. This is further aggravated by limited options options limited by aggravated further is This area. the in poverty deepens which livelihoods, for source

tion of these coastal habitats, the fish catch has steadily declined resulting in the decrease of income income of decrease the in resulting declined steadily has catch fish the habitats, coastal these of tion

practices such as blast fishing, poison fishing and other questionable fishing methods. With the destruc- the With methods. fishing questionable other and fishing poison fishing, blast as such practices

change and disasters, seagrass beds and coral reefs have been degraded because of destructive fishing fishing destructive of because degraded been have reefs coral and beds seagrass disasters, and change

illegal cutting for economic and/or household uses like firewood. Other than the impacts of climate climate of impacts the than Other firewood. like uses household and/or economic for cutting illegal

decreased because of: (1) conversion of mangrove areas due to conflicting land and water use; and (2) (2) and use; water and land conflicting to due areas mangrove of conversion (1) of: because decreased

and Pilar are in critical condition and require immediate rehabilitation. The mangrove forest cover has has cover forest mangrove The rehabilitation. immediate require and condition critical in are Pilar and

the municipalities of Poro, San Francisco, Tudela Tudela Francisco, San Poro, of municipalities the in areas mangrove of hectares 175 least at that show

buffer zones of the coastal lines and the more than 600 hectares of lake within the island. Estimates Estimates island. the within lake of hectares 600 than more the and lines coastal the of zones buffer

coastal settlements and encroachments to the natural natural the to encroachments and settlements coastal overfishing, mangroves, of cutting as such tions

storm surges, coral bleaching — which are further exacerbated by environmental mismanagement ac- mismanagement environmental by exacerbated further are which — bleaching coral surges, storm

continuously been degraded due to the impacts of Climate Change. These impacts include sea level rise, rise, level sea include impacts These Change. Climate of impacts the to due degraded been continuously

Over the years, the coastal habitats of CGI, particularly mangrove forests, seagrass beds and corals have have corals and beds seagrass forests, mangrove particularly CGI, of habitats coastal the years, the Over

The Impacts of Climate Change Change Climate of Impacts The

hectares that encompass mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs. reefs. coral and seagrass mangroves, encompass that hectares

sanctuaries, covering an estimated area of about 465 465 about of area estimated an covering sanctuaries, marine nine established also have islands three the

By virtue of enacted municipal ordinances the four LGUs in in LGUs four the ordinances municipal enacted of virtue By Plan. Action Setting Biodiversity National the

priority conservation areas for reef fishes in in fishes reef for areas conservation priority the of one as identified been also has CGI The (NIPAS). tem

Reserve has now been included as an initial component under the the under component initial an as included been now has Reserve National Integrated Protected Area Sys- Area Protected Integrated National

Presidential Proclamation No. 2152 issued on December 29, 1981 29, December on issued 2152 No. Proclamation Presidential under Reserve Forest Swamp grove . The The .

depended upon as the main source of livelihood. livelihood. of source main the as upon depended The three islands of the CGI were declared as as declared were CGI the of islands three The Man-

inces – Leyte, Bohol and Cebu. Even in CGI, where 68% of communities live along the coast, fishing is is fishing coast, the along live communities of 68% where CGI, in Even Cebu. and Bohol Leyte, – inces

role in the livelihood of many fisherfolk living alon living fisherfolk many of livelihood the in role g the coast of at least three surrounding island prov- island surrounding three least at of coast the g

Camotes Sea which is one of the major fishing grounds in the Central Visayas region and plays a vital vital a plays and region Visayas Central the in grounds fishing major the of one is which Sea Camotes

children. Poverty is experienced by 38.41% of the total population. The islands are in middle of the the of middle in are islands The population. total the of 38.41% by experienced is Poverty children.

Tudela, San Francisco, and Pilar. Its total population is 89,324 individuals, 40% or 37,612 of which, are are which, of 37,612 or 40% individuals, 89,324 is population total Its Pilar. and Francisco, San Tudela,

on the northeastern part of Cebu, CGI consists of 3 main islands and 4 municipalities, namely Poro, Poro, namely municipalities, 4 and islands main 3 of consists CGI Cebu, of part northeastern the on

Camotes Group of Islands (CGI) (CGI) Islands of Group Camotes The are part of the province of Cebu, in the Philippines. Located Located Philippines. the in Cebu, of province the of part are

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♦ ♦ Watershed and lake side reforestation reforestation side lake and Watershed

forests forests

♦ ♦ Preservation and expansion of mangrove mangrove of expansion and Preservation

♦ ♦ Municipal-wide campaign for cycling cycling for campaign Municipal-wide

targeted in the coming first 3 years) years) 3 first coming the in targeted

♦ ♦ Planting of endemic trees (2 million trees trees million (2 trees endemic of Planting

to hard to reach areas areas reach to hard to

♦ ♦ Installation of solar powered lighting system system lighting powered solar of Installation

Small Scale Mitigation Projects Projects Mitigation Scale Small

drills and simulation exercises exercises simulation and drills

♦ ♦ Participating and co-facilitating in community community in co-facilitating and Participating

basic life support and first aid training training aid first and support life basic

♦ ♦ Facilitating in Water Search and Rescue and and Rescue and Search Water in Facilitating

planning planning

♦ ♦ Supporting and participating in contingency contingency in participating and Supporting

sponse at school and community levels levels community and school at sponse

♦ ♦ rmtn Dsse Peaens ad Re- and Preparedness Disaster Promoting

♦ ♦ Adopt a tree / adopt a watershed area project project area watershed a adopt / tree a Adopt

♦ ♦ Promoting bike to school campaigns campaigns school to bike Promoting

Areas Areas

♦ ♦ Banning of compressor fishing fishing compressor of Banning ment of Marine Protected and Watershed Watershed and Protected Marine of ment

♦ ♦ uprig h etbihet n manage- and establishment the Supporting and slash and burn farmers farmers burn and slash and

♦ ♦ Meeting of illegal fishers, chain saw operators, operators, saw chain fishers, illegal of Meeting growing campaigns campaigns growing

♦ ♦ Mobilizing communities for tree planting and and planting tree for communities Mobilizing ♦ ♦ DRR/CCA film showing and analysis analysis and showing film DRR/CCA

Reducing Underlying Risk Factors Factors Risk Underlying Reducing along the lake side for monitoring of lakes lakes of monitoring for side lake the along

♦ ♦ Establishment of foot paths and bike trails trails bike and paths foot of Establishment

the other municipalities municipalities other the and CCA CCA and

♦ ♦

Coordinating the Earth Day Celebrations with with Celebrations Day Earth the Coordinating based eco-tourism and livelihood initiatives initiatives livelihood and eco-tourism based

documentation related to CCA and DRR DRR and CCA to related documentation ♦ ♦ Development of programs on community community on programs of Development

♦ ♦ Development of children’s participatory video video participatory children’s of Development table level in the islands islands the in level table

tions on disaster risk management management risk disaster on tions flood control projects and increase of water water of increase and projects control flood

♦ ♦ aiiae hl ld im cenns n reflec- and screenings film led child Facilitate ♦ ♦ Construction of water impounding areas for for areas impounding water of Construction

management management ness Month; Earth Day Celebrations Celebrations Day Earth Month; ness

♦ ♦ Joint actions with the teachers on disaster risk risk disaster on teachers the with actions Joint ♦ ♦ eua cnut f nul R Conscious- DRR annual of conduct Regular

increase in fish catch and harvest has been been has harvest and catch fish in increase for school and community based DRM works works DRM based community and school for ♦ ♦ Adopt a tree / adopt a watershed area project project area watershed a adopt / tree a Adopt

slash and burn practices are minimized and an an and minimized are practices burn and slash

♦ ♦ Mobilizing other students and fellow children children fellow and students other Mobilizing integration of climate change and DRM DRM and change climate of integration

many positive impacts of this initiative is that that is initiative this of impacts positive many

Shows on DRR and CCA actions actions CCA and DRR on Shows

♦ ♦ Training of teachers and administrators on on administrators and teachers of Training

town in the province of Cebu. Two of the the of Two Cebu. of province the in town

♦ ♦

Child led Theater productions and Cultural Cultural and productions Theater led Child

♦ ♦ Mangrove rehabilitation rehabilitation Mangrove

cisco has been recently awarded as the model model the as awarded recently been has cisco

Knowledge Management and Information Information and Management Knowledge

♦ ♦ Identification of watershed areas areas watershed of Identification rto. eas o al hi efrs Sn Fran- San efforts, their all of Because eration.

♦ ♦ Establishment of early warning systems (EWS) (EWS) systems warning early of Establishment mr iiitvs r gvn rfrnil consid- preferential given are initiatives smart

the four municipalities municipalities four the

are held and the allocation of funds for climate climate for funds of allocation the and held are ♦ ♦ Tree planting and tree growing activities activities growing tree and planting Tree

Disaster Coordinating Council (MDCC) in in (MDCC) Council Coordinating Disaster

rently, regular consultation with communities communities with consultation regular rently,

First Aid Aid First

(RipRAP) with the members of the Municipal Municipal the of members the with (RipRAP)

et ipeetd n h mncplt. Cur- municipality. the in implemented jects

♦ ♦ Conduct of training for Basic Life Support and and Support Life Basic for training of Conduct

patory Risk Assessment and Planning Planning and Assessment Risk patory

hc bcm te ai o pirte ad pro- and priorities of basis the became which

♦ ♦ Island Emergency Response Team Team Response Emergency Island Child participation in the Rights Based Partici- Based Rights the in participation Child

pacities (HVC) and climate risk, the results of of results the risk, climate and (HVC) pacities

♦ ♦ Organizing and strengthening of the Camotes Camotes the of strengthening and Organizing indigenous warning system system warning indigenous

seset o hzrs vleaiiy n ca- and vulnerability hazards, on assessments

♦ ♦ trees from the lake and watershed areas areas watershed and lake the from trees Training for children’s delivery of local and and local of delivery children’s for Training

nicipality. In 2008 the municipality conducted conducted municipality the 2008 In nicipality.

♦ ♦ Establishment of plant nurseries with endemic endemic with nurseries plant of Establishment

system system the children to push forth efforts in their mu- their in efforts forth push to children the

♦ ♦ as a climate change mitigation effort. effort. mitigation change climate a as Child-led risk assessment and early warning warning early and assessment risk Child-led collaboration with Plan, the communities and and communities the Plan, with collaboration

use of mountain bike throughout the islands islands the throughout bike mountain of use ganization ganization Mayor Alfredo Arquillano has forged strong strong forged has Arquillano Alfredo Mayor

Association (CORBA) as a campaign for the the for campaign a as (CORBA) Association ♦ ♦ e-p n srnteig f hlrns Or- Children’s of strengthening and Set-up cisco, led by former Mayor and current Vice Vice current and Mayor former by led cisco,

♦ ♦

Organizing of the Camotes Off Road Biker’s Biker’s Road Off Camotes the of Organizing rga, h lcl oenet f a Fran- San of government local the program, Councils (LDCC) meetings and consultations consultations and meetings (LDCC) Councils

♦ ♦ Establishment of marine protected areas areas protected marine of Establishment oriented Coastal Resource Management (CRM) (CRM) Management Resource Coastal oriented ♦ ♦ Involvement in Local Disaster Coordinating Coordinating Disaster Local in Involvement

island-wide climate and disaster risk reduction reduction risk disaster and climate island-wide ♦ ♦ Regular clean up drive of the coastal areas areas coastal the of drive up clean Regular ment ment

mate change. With the implementation of the the of implementation the With change. mate and Mangodlong Mangodlong and ment efforts related to CDRM and Develop- and CDRM to related efforts ment

eiin aant h rss f iatr ad cli- and disasters of risks the against resilient ♦ ♦ structures prone to storm surges in Santiago Santiago in surges storm to prone structures Participation in all decision making in govern- in making decision all in Participation

environment and making their communities communities their making and environment

♦ ♦ Removal and transfer of the communities and and communities the of transfer and Removal Governance Governance

committed to work towards protecting their their protecting towards work to committed

ACTIVITIES The municipality of San Francisco in CGI is is CGI in Francisco San of municipality The CHILDREN’S INVOLVEMENT CHILDREN’S

Lessons Learned ♦ Children are capable of positive contributions on DRR and CCA. They can be com- municators of risks as well as implementers and organizers of intervention actions. continued from page 1 ♦ Increased awareness among children can influence their action towards DRR and ported the mainstreaming of DRR and CCA. CCA in the education sector in collabora- ♦ Employing a variety of media, such as creative and performing arts is an effective strat- tion with the Department of Education. egy to engage children and raise children’s awareness and participation in DRR and Numerous capacity building activities with CCA. It also provides an opportunity for children to chare knowledge with their fami- local government and disaster coordinat- lies and the community. ing councils have also been conducted ♦ Schools are one of the most effective means in transferring knowledge about DRR particularly on child-centered disaster and and CCA to children. Curriculum development involving DRR and CCA is a worth- climate risk reduction and management. while strategy. Through Plan's efforts and support and ♦ Community based children’s organizations and peer support plays an important role coordination with other government agen- to educate and engage children in DRR and CCA efforts. cies, high risk municipalities in Southern ♦ Appreciation of small time projects from the sub-village level result can encourage the Leyte, Camotes Island, Cebu, Western, development of more positive local initiatives. North and Eastern Samar already have ♦ Local collaboration between communities with children and local government can their contingency and simplified disaster enhance the sustainability of the project. risk management plans. ♦ In Camotes, having children maintain and manage the reforestation and protection of mangrove activities will greatly contribute to the sustainability of the effort Plan's climate and disaster risk reduction ♦ Mobilization of resources from external support increases rapidly when local funds oriented Coastal Resource Management are maximized. project which was initiated in Eastern ♦ Increasing children’s participation means more adults are influenced and taught. Samar has recently been replicated in ♦ “Leadership by example”. Camotes Islands in Cebu and has contrib- uted to an increase in income and liveli- ♦ Alliance and networking with NGO’s, CSO’s, the church and religious organizations, hood in those areas. The establishment of as well as transparency, consistency and strict implementation of laws is contributes marine protected areas in these provinces, greatly to program success. as well as the plantation, protection and ♦ Responsible governance promotes active citizenship and acknowledges children as management of mangroves has created or major stakeholders in DRR and CCA action now and for the future. Reforestation improved local livelihood which is very and protection of mangroves and small pockets of forest will be maintained and man- much appreciated by children and their aged by today’s children and future generations. parents. Other coastal and marine man- ♦ Engagement of schools, teachers and parents in DRR and CCA action, and acknowl- agement efforts has also introduced com- edging their role as real sustainable multipliers who are key informants to reach wider munity-based tourism activities in audiences for building adaptive capacity. Camotes Islands which led to an increase ♦ The issue of climate variability has led to the realization that natural hazards have to in local livelihood. Plan's climate mitigation be managed as well, not just disasters. and adaptation campaign in agriculture has ♦ Aside from natural hazards, “social hazards” (i.e. poverty, vices, gambling, smoking, also increased the agricultural economy in drug use, alcohol, etc) contribute a lot to cause disasters that affects children’s lives. the Plan covered areas. ♦ Effective awareness programs in schools, homes and communities can create a culture of prevention and empowerment. Resources: Plan's Disaster Risk Management Strategy 2009-2013

Case Reports on Eastern Samar and Camotes Islands, Plan Philippines

"Building Child-Centered Climate and Disaster Resilient This case study summary was published through the Strengthen- Communities in Camotes Group of Islands", Plan Philippines ing Climate Resilience programme for the SCR Regional Consul- tation in Bangkok, Thailand, 22-23 July 2010.

Strengthening Climate Resilience (SCR) is a DfID funded programme that aims to For more information on this project, enhance the ability of governments and civil-society organisations in developing countries to please contact: build the resilience of communities to disasters and climate change as part of their development work. The programme seeks to develop a ‘climate smart’ approach to managing disaster risk PLAN PHILIPPINES Makati City, Philippines and development with the aim to protect society from the threats posed by climate change. BALTAZAR TRIBUNALO JR. For more information on SCR, please contact Mr. Atiq Kainan Ahmed, Plan International, Asia Regional Office, email: [email protected] Country Program Manager Child Centered Climate & Disaster Risk Management Program Email: [email protected]

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