No abstract

Purpose -The Philippines is among the countries vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. However, many local government units (LGUs) and the people themselves are not aware of the climate change phenomenon and do not have the capacity to undertake appropriate climate change adaptation measures. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the climate change adaptation strategies of communities and LGUs and the barriers and recommendations to enhance their adaptive capacity. Design/methodology/approach -The study covered five communities vulnerable to climate change impacts. Information on extreme climatic events and their impacts and adaptation strategies undertaken were gathered through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews.LGU staff members were assisted in the preparation of their climate change adaptation plan (CCAP). Findings -The LGUs and communities have low adaptive capacity and employed temporary adaptation strategies. Strong social cohesion and spontaneous collective action are factors that could enhance the communities' adaptive capacity. The pursuit of awareness raising and capacity building activities on climate change phenomena, alternative livelihood, preparedness and adaptation possibilities, technology and infrastructure development and collective action, which are critical adaptive capacity enhancement factors were laid-out in the CCAP. Originality/value -The paper presents the barriers that constrain the adaptive capacity of communities and LGUs, the recommended adaptive capacity enhancement measures to overcome these barriers and the highlights of the CCAP jointly prepared by the partner LGUs and scientists.

No abstract

This study examined the current governance system for Lake Buhi, Philippines. It describes stakeholder patterns of decision-making, their roles in the decision-making process based on their legal mandates, the manner of interactions, the sources of conflict and how these various issues are currently resolved. Stakeholders represent diverse interests, including irrigation, hydropower generation, fishery management and navigation. This study uses data generated from ten key informant interviews of the different stakeholders, information from five round table discussions, and secondary data and reports of various agencies. The results indicate that Lake Buhi and its watershed present classic man-in-nature governance challenges. The interplay of internal and external uncertainties regarding multiple uses results in a complex system that is difficult to effectively manage. Climate-related hazards aggravate the pressures from activities within the lake watershed, complicating water allocation issues. The institutional arrangements that have emerged to address these challenges, however, appear to be fraught with overlaps, fragmentation and a lack of communication. It is thought these deficiencies could be addressed by establishing a lake basin council with representation from all the involved organizations, as well as any stakeholder groups not represented by organizations. The system of governance over the lake must address issues concerning water uses and access to the resource. The capacity of the organizations to participate in such an arrangement is weak, however, and capacity building is needed. The availability and sharing of data and information among stakeholders are also weak and must be strengthened if the work of the lake basin council is to be based on the best available information.

This chapter analyzes the opportunities and challenges for modern biotechnology, particularly Genetically Modified (GM) corn, in addressing social inclusion to ensure its equitable outcomes or impacts. It examines the policy environment in which GM corn was introduced and the related socioeconomic concerns. The study reveals that in the Philippines there is no institutionalized mechanism yet to determine if GM corn promotion policies and strategies conform to the social inclusion context of biotechnology. Governance of the GM technology and the interplay of the innovation system intermediaries hindered the full realization and application of social inclusion principles. Interventions to monitor socio-economic impact, knowledge transfer and interaction, and credit support delivery are needed for a more socially inclusive innovation. There should be a continuous interactive learning among various stakeholders to have evidence-based information on the technology.