Social and Ecological Vulnerability of Coastal Communities in the Philippines

Social and Ecological Vulnerability of Coastal Communities in the Philippines

Project Director:  Marlon DL. Era
Funding Agency:  The Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Climate change is producing more intense storms, droughts, and sea level rising and is impacting coastal communities. In the Philippines, which is one of the most hazard-prone counties in the world due to its geographical and social condition, frequent and severe catastrophe combined with rapid urbanization and population concentration has created vulnerable situation, particularly in coastal communities.

To address these climate-induced coastal vulnerabilities, the joint team of the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) and De La Salle University, in collaboration with other relative experts, will examine the interrelated issues to identify social and ecological vulnerability of coastal communities in the Philippines. This study includes a comparative study of coastal countryside and urban city-based qualitative analytical methods. The joint team will conduct two field interviews based on the FGD method in two study sites – Metro Manila and Batangas province. The project will provide evidence-based research outcomes as vital reference to substantially assist the Philippine government and domestic and international development organizations to identify the agenda and potential supporting program to reduce community vulnerability in the Philippines.

Key words: Metro Manila, Batangas, climate change, coastal communities, social and ecological vulnerability