Local communities in the Municipality of Tupi are taking an important step toward stronger climate resilience following a comprehensive barangay hazard assessment conducted under the CLIMATE CARE Project, an initiative aimed at identifying environmental risks and strengthening disaster preparedness at the grassroots level.
The activity was conducted in close coordination with the Provincial Environment Management Office of South Cotabato, led by Chief Siegfred Flaviano, and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Tupi headed by Emil T. Sumagaysay.
Flaviano said that the barangay officials and community organizations also participated in the process, ensuring that the assessment reflected both technical findings and the lived experiences of residents in the area.
“The assessment covered Barangays Lunen, Tubeng, and Kalkam, where the CLIMATE CARE Project Team carried out field validation, site observations, and consultations with residents to identify key environmental hazards that could threaten communities, livelihoods, and natural resources,” Flaviano shared.
Through the joint effort, the team identified several environmental vulnerabilities including flood prone zones, areas vulnerable to soil erosion, and watershed conditions that may affect water sources, agriculture, and ecosystem stability.
“These risks pose potential threats to families living in vulnerable areas, particularly children and other at risk groups who are often the most affected during disasters,” Flaviano explained.
Local officials emphasized that understanding these hazards at the barangay level is essential in building safer and more prepared communities.
The results of the assessment will serve as an important basis for planning and decision making, allowing local governments and community leaders to prioritize appropriate climate adaptation measures, ecosystem restoration initiatives, and nature based solutions that protect both people and the environment.
The findings will also contribute to strengthening the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management plans and Local Climate Change Action Plans of the municipality and concerned barangays.
“By grounding policies and programs on verified field data, we can implement more responsive and sustainable strategies to address the growing impacts of climate change,” he said.
The field activity was facilitated by the CLIMATE CARE Project Team led by Project Coordinator II Nino Wilgie Cagas, RSW, MSW, together with Leah Marie B. Antonio, Project Coordinator of Ha Uman Association Inc., who supervised the technical documentation and community engagement activities during the assessment.
The CLIMATE CARE Project is funded by the European Union in the Philippines and implemented by ChildFund Philippines in partnership with Ha Uman Association Inc. and XAES Foundation Inc.
The project supports community driven climate action, particularly in vulnerable areas, by promoting environmental protection, disaster preparedness, and sustainable resource management.
Provincial leaders in South Cotabato continue to emphasize programs that strengthen community resilience and environmental protection, recognizing that proactive climate action at the local level plays a critical role in safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and future generations.
