DRRM WORKHOP (September 20-21, 2010)

The workshop entitled PAGKATUTO SA NAKARAAN AT PAGHAHANDA SA KINABUKASAN: Gender, Informal Work and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation was jointly organized by the Homenet Southeast Asia (Homenet SEA) and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Cluster of the UP College of Social Work and Community Development with the financial support of the UNIFEM and Oxfam Great Britain Philippine office.  Participants were 39 individuals from the different organizations of informal workers, Homenet SEA staff and CSWCD students. Most of the participants were survivors of damages caused by typhoons Frank (Fengshen), Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma). It was held on 20-21 September 2010 at the Bulwagang Tandang Sora of the College of Social Work and Community Development, University of the Philippines.

The objective of the workshop was to raise the awareness of informal workers on their vulnerability to disasters and climate change.  Specifically, the workshop was designed so that participants are able to:

1. Explain better their situation and vulnerability as workers and the effects of disasters and climate change on their lives
2. Share their knowledge and experiences on the interaction of gender, informal work, mitigation and adaptation strategies to climate change
3. Identify mechanisms and approaches to mitigate disasters and to prepare the community
4. Identify development approaches that reduce the vulnerability of communities

The two-day workshop started out with the discussion the concept and impact of climate change and disaster risk reduction.  It was made clear that these two concepts are interrelated.  There is a need for mitigation and adaptation strategies to climate change.  Emissions of GHG affect the climate which is related to disaster.  But disasters can either be climate-related, bio-geographical or human-induced.

The need to be prepared, respond immediately and recover was emphasized in the workshop. Also, the concepts of hazards, risks, capacity and vulnerability were presented.  Concrete experiences on how to increase the communities’ capacity to respond to disasters were also shared. Also, an action planning at the level of communities and organizations of those who participated in the workshop was crafted.