Climate, disaster, and waste management study highlights need to harmonize LGU initiatives

A DLSU FACULTY-LED STUDY SEEKING TO BUILD RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITIES underscores the need to have clear guidelines for local government units (LGUs) to implement international frameworks and existing laws.

Efforts on harmonization practices are highlighted in “Climate Change, Disaster Risk and Waste Management in the Urban and Rural Coastal Communities in the Philippines (INTRAMURAL Project),” a study undertaken by the DLSU Social Development Research Center (SDRC) and commissioned by the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

Team members Dr. Marlon Era, an SDRC research fellow and faculty member of the Behavioral Sciences, Nagisa Yoshioka of Sasakawa’s OPRI, and Daisuke Sasaki of the International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University surveyed residents from the cities of Biñan and Santa Rosa in Laguna and the municipalities of Lian and Calatagan in Batangas.

Climate, disaster, and waste management study highlights need to harmonize LGU initiatives The study also engaged local experts representing the City and Municipal Planning and Development Office, City and Municipal Environmental and Natural Resources Office and City and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in a focus group discussion.

A follow-up to the study “Toward Integrated Approach for Climate Disaster Risk and Waste Management: A Comparative Vulnerability Assessment of Urban and Rural Coastal Communities in the Philippines,” the INTRAMURAL project attempts to develop policy-making at the national and regional levels.

The study reveals that community residents as well as local government employees and officials have high levels of awareness and behavioral engagement in relation to the themes of climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and solid waste management. They agreed that the Department of Interior and Local Government is the key agency in cascading the international frameworks locally.