Women are powerful agents of change amid climate woes – Sen. Legarda

MANILA, Philippines— Although they are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, women have shown that they are not victims but “powerful agents of change.”

Their crucial role in the  battle against climate change was highlighted anew on Monday as Senator Loren Legarda led the launch of the book titled “Journey to Climate Resilience: The Philippine Story” and the “Filipina Changemakers” video documentaries.

Legarda noted that most of those displaced by climate change  are women and girls. 

“Yet, despite this vulnerability, women have shown that they are not victims—instead, they are powerful agents of change,” she  pointed out in her keynote speech at the Philippine Resilience Awards 2024 in Pasay City.

“Their knowledge, experience, and leadership are critical to build resilience. This is why we must continue to amplify their voices, not only in the community but in decision-making processes at all levels of government,” Legarda added.

“Filipina Changemakers” features two women—Nida Collado and Mila Boñgalbal—who have made advanced transformative climate action in their respective communities.

A farmer and a dedicated leader of the Macatumbalen Community-Based Forest and Coastal Management Association in San Vicente, Palawan, Collado has mobilized community resources to strengthen efforts against illegal logging.

Boñgalbal, on the other hand,  led 68 farmers as the president of Joroan Farmers Association in Tiwi, Albay.

She  has mobilized her community to train and be equipped in resilient practices, especially on food security, through sustainable livelihoods such as abaca drying and livestock and vegetable farming.

Meanwhile, Legarda described the book as “a living testament to the collective efforts of all Filipinos to protect their homes, families, and futures against the climate crisis.”

It tackles the mandate of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and its significant milestones in policy-making, advocacy, as well as environmental and climate change awareness from its creation up to 2022, she said.

The book, Legarda said, “captures not just our national policies, but also the stories of communities that have embraced resilience, of local governments that have prioritized risk-informed planning, and of individuals who are champions of adaptation and mitigation.”

In partnership with Legarda’s office, the CCC has spearheaded the production of the book.

“Our journey towards resilience is far from over. Climate change will continue to test us, but I firmly believe that the Filipino people have the strength and the ingenuity to overcome these challenges,” Legarda said.

Still, she called on all stakeholders to unite in addressing the challenges brought about by climate change.

“We must ensure that resources reach the most vulnerable, that our policies are inclusive, and that we continue to innovate and find solutions that are both sustainable and scalable,” said the senator.

“Let us be reminded that resilience is not a destination but a continuous process. It requires commitment, collaboration, and, most of all, compassion for one another,”  she stressed.