Level of awareness on climate change and adaptation to extreme weather events of households in selected barangays in los baños laguna philippines

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY COLLEENE IVIE L LANZADOR LEVEL OF AWARENESS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPTATION TO EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS OF HOUSEHOLDS IN SELECTED BARANGAYS IN LOS BANOS, LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES BACHELOR THESIS Study Mode Major Faculty Batch : Full-time : Environmental Science and Management : International Program Office : 2013 - 2017 Thai Nguyen, 2017 DOCUMENTATION PAGE WITH ABSTRACT Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry Degree Program Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management Student Name Colleene Ivie L Lanzador Student ID DTN1454290047 Level of Awareness on Climate Change and Thesis Title Adaptation to Extreme Weather Events of Households in Selected Barangays in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines Supervisors Assistant Professor Maricel A Tapia Dr Ho Ngoc Son Abstract: The risks and impacts of climate change require adaptations that can address and help individuals secure their selves from the looming dangers However, performance of adaptation strategies depends on the capacities, foremost of which is the awareness of household to climate change and its impendence This study explores if the level of awareness on climate change of the household respondents in selected barangays in Los Baños, Laguna, contributes to the performing adaptation strategies that minimize immediate impacts and result in enhancing their resilience The study was conducted in Los Baños, Laguna, particularly in the barangays of Bagong Silang, Bambang and Lalakay It employed quantitative and qualitative data collections methods, particularly household survey, in-depth interview and secondary data collection Data from the household survey were analyzed using descriptive, correlation and regression analyses, and enriched with qualitative analyses from information gathered from in-depth interviews, and secondary data The results revealed that respondents have high level of awareness on what is climate change, but only the location of the household respondents affects their awareness on this global phenomenon Pre- and post-adaptation strategies are also performed to reduce the impacts from hazards that they are exposed to, ii such as typhoon, flood, drought and landslide Socio-demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, particularly source of income, monthly income, location and education, were found to influence their choice and performance of adaptation strategies Moreover, their level of awareness has significant relationship to the performance of adaptation strategies, and in general to their adaptedness Thus this means that the level of awareness of people towards climate change influences their performance of effective adaptation strategies which can enhance their resilience It is recommended that disseminating climate change information through conduct of seminars and trainings can help communities, especially the respondents, to enhance their adaptive capacity, thereby enabling them to perform adaptation strategies that would contribute to their resilience Keywords: Climate change, Awareness, Adaptation, Extreme Weather Events, Hazard & Resilience Number of Pages 127 pages Date of Submission November 2017 Signature of the Supervisor iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 “I can all this through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13 The above bible verses serve as the fuel of the blazing spirit of the author during her stay in Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry for almost four years It gives her hope for new beginnings Those words keeps her motivated, empowered and excited to look forward even though, things in the future are seem to be unknown Above all else, the author wants to express her deepest gratitude and declare the highest praise, glory and honor to the one and only Almighty Father of the Heaven and Earth, for God has called her for a purpose; for the unconditional and unfailing love since her day one; and for giving her and her family His favor through strength, happiness, good health, grace, peace, tons of blessings and triumph The author owes it all to the Lord, for God has molded the best version of her To the loving and supportive family, Rommel P Lanzador, Analiza L.Lanzador, Nicolle Marie Lanzador, Mary Angeli Anne Albes, Silvina Lapis, Alice Lapis, Amalia Baskiñas, and Norma Lanzador which serve as my greatest inspirations; for giving unending words of wisdom to enlighten, motivate and inspire her; and for the prayers, love and care Deepest appreciation to the kind and helpful advisers, Prof Maricel A Tapia of College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College of Forestry and Natural Resources and Dr Ho Son of the faculty of Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry for giving ideas and assistance as the author conducted her research study Sincerest thank you to all the selected respondents, including the community leaders and mostly to the International Science Relation Officer V of iv the Climate Change Commission of the Philippines, Mr Alexis Lapiz, who invested a little time answering the structured questionnaire and interview for the thesis report Ever grateful to Mrs Maribel L Prestado and Mr.Nelson C Del Mundo, Master Teacher II of Buenaventura E Fandialan Memorial Integrated National High School, a Ph D in Applied Linguistics (CAR) from De La Salle University Manila and an international presenter, for being the English adviser and editor of the author To the Advance Education Program, Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry together with the Dr Dung Van Thao and the staff for providing the opportunity of study abroad and conducting the research study at her chosen university To batch, K45-AEP, for sharing knowledge and happy memories along her journey in Vietnam, as well as to the first three batches, K42-AEP, K43-AEP and K44-AEP for helping and becoming a good role models to all K45-AEP Filipino students To all friends, especially Alexis Ann Alcantara, Katriz Moldez, Goldwyn Macatangay, Ria Reyes, Keraia Geronimo, Jose Dunca, Joshua Veridiano, and Robert Raleigh Manuel, for the boundless support and motivation To my roommate, reporting and library buddy, Martina P Sumadsad for being thoughtful and caring as always The author got this far because of you all, who pushed her to pursue her goals, who relieved her stresses, who lightens her mood, who gives her positivity in life, and who keeps on sending prayers for her Words are not enough to express how thankful and blessed the author is All the author can is to take a new step with all the lessons, laughers and memories you have shared with her May the Lord bless all of you v The Researcher Colleene Ivie L Lanzador vi TABLE OF CONTENT DOCUMENTATION PAGE WITH ABSTRACT .ii ACKNOWLEDGMENT iv TABLE OF CONTENT .vii List of Figures x List of Tables xi List of Abbreviations xvi PART I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study 1.2 Research Questions 1.3 Objectives of the Study 1.4 Significance of the Study 1.5 Hypotheses 1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study 1.7 Definition of Terms PART II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1 Climate Change 2.2 Environmental Changes and Natural Disasters/Hazards 11 2.3 Level of awareness and Perception to Climate change of Communities/Households 14 2.4 Vulnerability of Different Communities in the Philippines to Climatic Changes 16 2.5 Resilience of households to Climate Change: Focusing on Extreme Events 23 2.6 Conceptual Framework 28 PART IV METHODOLOGY 30 4.1 Materials 30 4.2 Description of the Study Area 31 4.3 Data Gathering 33 4.4 Selection of Respondents 34 4.5 Method of Analysis and Data Presentation 36 PART V: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 39 vii Results of the Data Analysis 39 5.1.1 Socio-Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile of the Respondents 39 5.2 Level of Awareness and Perception towards Climate Change 47 5.2.1 Level of Awareness 48 5.2.2 Perception of All the Respondents towards Climate Change 49 5.3 Hazards Experienced by All respondents 54 5.4 Impacts of Extreme Events and Adaptation Strategies of the Respondents 60 5.4.1 Impacts of Extreme Events 61 5.4.2 Adaptation Strategies of the Respondents to Extreme Events 66 5.5 Period of Recovery of the Respondent after Extreme Events 84 5.6 Analysis among Socio-economic Characteristics of the Respondents, Level of Awareness and their Adaptation Strategies to Extreme Hazards 89 5.6.1 Relationship of the Socio-demographic and Socio-economic profile of the Respondents to their Level of Awareness to Climate Change 90 5.6.2 Pearson Correlation Analysis of the Socio-economic Characteristics of the Respondents to their Choice of Adaptation Strategies for Extreme Events 92 5.6.3 Regression Analysis of Level of Awareness and Adaptation Strategies of the Respondents towards Climate Change/Variability 110 5.6.4 Correlation Analysis of the Level of awareness and Adaptedness of the respondents toward the extreme hazards 117 PART VI: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 120 6.1 Conclusion 120 6.2 Recommendation 121 Bibliography: 123 Appendix A-1 128 Appendix A-2 131 Appendix A-3 138 Appendix A - Figures 149 Appendix B 138 Appendix C 159 Appendix D 161 viii Appendix E 162 Appendix F 166 ix LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Conceptual Framework adapted from IPCC (2001) Vulnerability Framework 29 Figure 2: Level of Awareness of the Respondents towards Climate Change 48 Figure 3: Impacts of Typhoon to the Selected Respondents 61 Figure 4: Impacts of Flood to the Selected Respondents 62 Figure 5: Impacts of Drought to the Selected Respondents 63 Figure 6: Impacts of Landslide to the Selected Respondents 64 Figure 7: Pre-Adaptation Strategies of the Individuals in response to Typhoon 67 Figure 8: During/Post Adaptation Strategies of the Individuals in response to Typhoon 68 Figure 9: Long-term Adaptation Strategies of the Individuals in response to Typhoon 69 Figure 10: Pre-Adaptation Strategies of the Individuals in response to Flood 70 Figure 11: During/Post Adaptation Strategies of the Individuals in response to Flood 71 Figure 12: Long-term Adaptation Strategies of the Individuals in response to Flood 72 Figure 13: Pre-Adaptation Strategies of the Individuals in response to Drought 73 Figure 14: During/Post Adaptation of the Individuals in response to Drought 75 Figure 15: Long-term Adaptation Strategies of the Individuals in response to Drought .76 Figure 16: Pre-Adaptation Strategies of the Individuals in response to Landslide 77 Figure 17: During/Post Adaptation Strategies of the Individuals in response to Landslide 78 Figure 18: Long-term Adaptation of the Individuals in response to Landslide 79 APPENDIX A-FIGURES Figure 1-a: Los Baños Record of Previous Disaster Events Figure 1-b: Los Baños Record of Previous Disaster Events Figure 2: Flood Prone Areas Map (Source: LCCAP 2015) x _ □ None 46 Does the gathered information help you in preparing your adaptation strategies? □ Yes □ No 47 How effective your prepared adaptation strategies are? □ Strongly effective □ Effective □ Not effective 48 What are the information that help you to those adaptation strategies during this kind of season/event? _ _ 49 If you experienced flood, you receive enough information about the possible occurrence of flood? □Yes □ No 50 If yes, In which source the information come from? (Put a check (√) on the box of the said source of information) □ Television □ Radio □ Internet □ Leader of the municipality□ Barangay Leader □ Relatives or friends □ Others, kindly identify: 51 What are the adaptation strategies you are preparing to secure yourself, family and livelihood before actual flood? □ Checking updated information about flood □ Stocking food and water supply □ Preparing first aid kit, flash light and rechargeable batteries □ Keeping all the important things and documents □ Repairing damaged properties □ House renovation (heightening the flooring) □ Cutting branches of trees near the house □ Transferring to the nearest evacuation center □ Others, kindly identify: □ None 52 Does the gathered information help you in preparing your adaptation strategies? □ Yes □ No 53 How effective your prepared adaptation strategies are? □ Strongly effective □ Effective □ Not effective 54 What are the information that help you to those adaptation strategies during this kind of season/event? _ _ 55 What are the adaptation strategies you are preparing to secure yourself, family, properties and livelihood during or after actual flood? □ Transferring and staying to evacuation center □ Repairing damaged properties □ Finding stable or alternative job □ Lending money for family’s needs □ Asking assistance or support to the government (barangay and municipal level) □ Transferring to another residence □ House renovation (heightening the flooring) □ Others, kindly identify: _ _ □ None 56 Does the gathered information help you in preparing your adaptation strategies? □ Yes □ No 57 How effective your prepared adaptation strategies are? □ Strongly effective □ Effective □ Not effective 58 What are the information that help you to those adaptation strategies during this kind of season/event? _ _ 154 59 What are the long-term adaptation strategies you are preparing to secure yourself, family, properties and livelihood if there’s an unexpected threat of flood? □ Finding stable or alternative job (not affected by flood) □ House renovation (heightening the flooring) □ Transferring to another residence □ Saving emergency funds □ Applies for Insurance □ Others, kindly Identify: _ _ _ □ None 60 Does the gathered information help you in preparing your adaptation strategies? □ Yes □ No 61 How effective your prepared adaptation strategies are? □ Strongly effective □ Effective □ Not effective 62 What are the information that help you to those adaptation strategies during this kind of season/event? 63 If you experienced drought, you receive enough information about the coming drought/dry season? □ Yes □ No 64 If yes, in which source the information come from? (Put a check (√) on the box of the said source of information) □ Television □ Radio □ Internet □ Leader of the municipality □ Barangay Leader □ Relatives/Friends □ Others, kindly identify: 65 What adaptation strategies you prepare to secure yourself, family, properties and livelihood before drought/dry season? □ Early planting of crops □ Maintaining and developing of the water irrigation □ Planting drought tolerant crops □ Moistening/sprinkling water around the house to avoid heat stroke □ Drinking a lot of water to avoid dehydration □ Checking updated information related to health tips during drought/dry season □ Know the health to-do list to avoid spreading diseases □ Others, please identify: □ None 66 Does the gathered information help you in preparing your adaptation strategies? □ Yes □ No 67 How effective your prepared adaptation strategies are? □ Strongly effective □ Effective □ Not effective 68 What are the information that help you to those adaptation strategies during this kind of season/event? _ _ 69 What adaptation strategies you prepare to secure yourself, family, properties and livelihood during and/or after drought/dry season? □ Maintaing, developing and monitoring the water irrigation □ Taking good care of their far-animals to avoid diseases and death □ Finding alternative job □ Applying insurances for their properties □ Drinking a lot of water to avoid dehydration □ Avoid staying under/being exposed to the sun □ Mostly taking good care of their health □ Being actively alert of the things that may happen □ Others, please identify: _ _ 155 □ None 70 Does the gathered information help you in preparing your adaptation strategies? □ Yes □ No 71 How effective your prepared adaptation strategies are? □ Strongly effective □ Effective □ Not effective 72 What are the information that help you to those adaptation strategies during this kind of season/event? _ _ 73 What long-term adaptation strategies you prepare to secure yourself, family, properties and livelihood before drought/dry season comes? □ Finding stable or alternative job □ House renovation □ Transferring to another residence □ Planting trees around the house □ Saving emergency funds □ Applies for insurances □ Others, kindly identify: _ _ □ None 74 Does the gathered information help you in preparing your adaptation strategies? □ Yes □ No 75 How effective your prepared adaptation strategies are? □ Strongly effective □ Effective □ Not effective 76 What are the information that help you to those adaptation strategies during this kind of season/event? _ _ 77 If you experienced landslide, you receive enough information about the possible occurrence of landslide? □Yes □ No 78 If yes, in which source the information come from? (Put a check (√) on the box of the said source of information) □ Television □ Radio □ Internet □ Leader of the municipality □ Barangay leader □ Relatives/friends □ Others, kindly idnetify: 79 What adaptation strategies you prepare to secure yourself, family, properties and livelihood when there is a threat of landslide? □ Evacuating to a safe place □ Preparing all important things □ Stocking of food and water □ Spreading caution/warning to other neighbors □ Making sure to have emergency hotline numbers of the barangay/town officials □ Others, kindly identify: _ □ None 80 Does the gathered information help you in preparing your adaptation strategies? □ Yes □ No 81 How effective your prepared adaptation strategies are? □ Strongly effective □ Effective □ Not effective 82 What are the information that help you to those adaptation strategies during this kind of season/event? _ _ 83 What adaptation strategies you prepare to secure yourself, family, properties and livelihood during/after landslide? □ Move to evacuation center □ Transfer to another residence far from danger 156 □ Finding stable job □ Asking help to the government □ Lending money for family’s needs □ Repairing damaged properties □ Others, kindly identify: _ _ □ None 84 Does the gathered information help you in preparing your adaptation strategies? □ Yes □ No 85 How effective your prepared adaptation strategies are? □ Strongly effective □ Effective □ Not effective 86 What are the information that help you to those adaptation strategies during this kind of season/event _ _ 87 What adaptation strategies you prepare to secure yourself, family, properties and livelihood from landslide? □ Finding stable job □ House renovation □ Transferring to another place far from danger □ Saving emergency funds □ Applying for insurance □ Others, kindly identify: _ □ None 88 Does the gathered information help you in preparing your adaptation strategies? □ Yes □ No 89 How effective your prepared adaptation strategies are? □ Strongly effective □ Effective □ Not effective 90 What are the information that help you to those adaptation strategies during this kind of season/event _ _ V Katanungan patungkol sa “household resilience” 91 Do you think your adaptation strategies help you lessen the effects of extreme events/climate change? □ Yes □ Sometimes □ No 92 Are you and your family ready for typhoon? (Rate yourself by encircling the number that corresponds to your answer) – Not prepared - Prepared – Very prepared 93 If you experienced strong typhoon? How long does it take for you to recover or bounced back to your normal living? □ to days □ days to week □ to weeks □ month □ to months □ Several months: please identify: □ year □ More than a year 94 Are you and your family ready for flood? (Rate yourself by encircling the number that corresponds to your answer) – Not prepared - Prepared – Very prepared 95 If you experienced flood/overflowing of water? How long does it take for you to recover or bounced back to your normal living? □ to days □ days to week □ to weeks □ month □ to months □ Several months: please identify: □ year □ More than a year 96 Are you and your family ready for landslide? (Rate yourself by encircling the number that corresponds to your answer) 157 – Not prepared - Prepared – Very prepared 97 If you experienced landslide? How long does it take for you to recover or bounced back to your normal living? □ to days □ days to week □ to weeks □ month □ to months □ Several months: please identify: □ year □ More than a year 98 Are you and your family ready for drought/dry season? (Rate yourself by encircling the number that corresponds to your answer) – Not prepared –Prepared – Very Prepared 99 If you experienced drought/dry season? How long does it take for you to recover or bounced back to your normal living? □ to days □ days to week □ to weeks □ month □ to months □ Several months: please identify: □ year □ More than a year 100 What are the help or services did you receive from authorities to bring back your normal living? 158 Appendix C (Instrument for In-depth Interview of the Six Selected Respondents) RELATED TO TYPHOON Have you heard the word climate change? If yes, how can you describe the climate change? What was the strongest typhoon you experienced in Los Baños? What year did it strike your barangay? Do you usually receive on information about typhoons? If yes, where you get your information? After receiving the news about typhoon, how long or how many days before the typhoon hit your area? After receiving the news about typhoon, did you immediately prepare? Why? Why not? What are your preparations or adaptation strategies? What you to save your family and properties while the typhoon is hitting your barangay? What is the wort effect that your family experienced with typhoons? How does typhoons affect your life / your job and your environment? 10 How much is the damage to your properties? 11 What did you after the typhoon? How did you adjust after the terrible experience? How long does it take for your family to go back with your normal life situation? 12 Is there any organization, LGU or private institution that help you/ guide you in adjusting/ adapting with your situation? 13 What help these organizations/ institutions give you? 14 What you think is the most important information that every person needs to know during typhoons? 15 Do you think your adaptation strategies are effective? RELATED TO FLOODING 10 11 12 13 14 Have you experience flood? When did you experience severe flood? ( Was it because of a typhoon or just heavy rainfall) Were you able to receive warning or information regarding severe food in your barangay? Where did you get the information? Was it reliable? How long does it take before you experience severe flood? Did you immediately prepare after receiving the warning? Why? or why not? What did you to prepare? During severe flood, what to save your family and your properties? What was the effect of flood in your family? In your job? In the environment? How much is the damage to your properties? How did you adopt / adjust after the flood? Is there any organization, LGU or private institution that help you / guide you after the flood? In what way this organization / institution help you? What you think is the most important information that every person need to prepare during flood? 15 Do you think your adaptation strategies are effective? FOR DROUGHT: Have you experience drought? When did you experience severe drought? Were you able to receive warning or information regarding severe drought in your barangay? Where did you get the information? Was it reliable? 159 10 11 12 13 14 How long does it take before you experience severe drought? Did you immediately prepare after receiving the warning? Why? Or why not? What did you to prepare? During severe drought, what to save your family and your properties? What was the effect of drought in your family? In your job? In the environment? How much is the damage to your properties? How did you adopt / adjust after the drought? Is there any organization, LGU or private institution that help you / guide you after the drought? In what way this organization / institution help you? What you think is the most important information that every person need to prepare during drought? 15 Do you think your adaptation strategies are effective? RELATED FOR LAND SLIDE 10 11 12 Have you experience land slide? When did you experience severe land slide? Were you able to receive warning or information regarding land slide in your barangay? Where did you get the information? Was it reliable? How long does it take before you experience severe land slide? Did you immediately prepare after receiving the warning? Why? Or why not? What did you to prepare? During severe land slide, what to save your family and your properties? What was the effect of drought in your family? In your job? In the environment? How much is the damage to your properties? How did you adopt / adjust after the land slide? Is there any organization, LGU or private institution that help you / guide you after the land slide? 13 In what way this organization / institution help you? 14 What you think is the most important information that every person need to prepare during land slide? 15 Do you think your adaptation strategies are effective? 160 Appendix D (Instrument Used for the Face to Face Interview with Three Community Leaders) Being barangay captain of Lalakay for years, how are you going to describe its socio – economic and biophysical characteristic? Do you have any idea / knowledge about climate change? a If none, you know that extreme events such as typhoon, flood drought and landslide are effects of climate change? b How did you learned about it? Does your barangay always experience those extreme events (typhoon, flood drought and landslide)? How does strong typhoons affect your barangay especially the families and their properties, food and water supply, transportation and communication? a How does your barangay prepare for typhoons? b After experiencing severe typhoons, what are your adaptation strategies in your barangay? c What are your long term plans / adaptation strategies before and after typhoons? How does flood affect your barangay, especially the families and their properties, distribution of food and water supply, transportation and communication? a How does your barangay prepare for floods? b What are your life saving plans/ strategies to avoid the effects of flood? c What are your life saving plans/ strategies to avoid its worst effects? How does drought affect your barangay, especially the families and their properties, distribution of food and water supply, transportation and communication? a How does your barangay prepare for drought? b What are your life saving plans/ strategies to avoid the effects of drought? c What are your life saving plans/ strategies to avoid its worst effects? Does your barangay experience landslide? If yes, how does it affects your residents, their jobs? Food and water supply, health and their status in life? a How does your barangay respond to any information about landslide? b After experiencing severe landslide, what are your adaptation strategies to avoid its effects? c What are your life saving plans/ strategies to avoid its worst effects? What you think is the reason why your barangay is vulnerable to extreme events such as typhoon, flood, drought and landslide? (Ex Low lying land/ area their livelihood depends on natural resources, lack of knowledge, luck of funds etc.) Do you think your adaptation strategies are effective? Why not? How can you improve your barangays’ capacity to cope / adjust with those kinds of extreme events? 161 Appendix E (Materials that was used to pursue this research study) Letters that was used for this research study 162 163 164 165 Appendix F (Pictures during the In-depth Interview) Barangay Bagong Silang Barangay Bambang 166 Barangay Lalakay Pictures during Interviews Barangay Bagong Silang 167 Barangay Bambang Interview with the Head Chief of the Climate Change Commission 168 ... DTN1454290047 Level of Awareness on Climate Change and Thesis Title Adaptation to Extreme Weather Events of Households in Selected Barangays in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines Supervisors Assistant Professor... the level of awareness on climate change of household respondents on selected barangays in Los Baños, Laguna contribute to performing adaptation strategies that minimize immediate impacts and. .. Analysis of the Level of Awareness and their Choice of Adaptation towards Landslide xv Table 17-c: Coefficient of the Regression Analysis of the Level of Awareness and their Choice of Adaptation towards