Text by: Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photo by: Joseph A. Bautista

The University of the Philippines Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management for Health (UPM DRRM-H) Program and the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), together with various health experts and stakeholders across different regions, have embarked on an agreement to enhance research efforts concerning health-related effects of climate change, disasters, and various types of emergencies.

DOST-PCHRD has enlisted the support of UPM to undertake a series of consultative meetings to the different regions in the country to select sx priority research areas related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Dr. Carlos Primero Gundran, Head of UPM DRRM-H explained.

The Philippines ranks among countries most vulnerable to disasters, according to the 2022 World Risk Index. The DOST-PCHRD said there is a scarcity of research proposals targeting health aspects of DRR and CCA which restricts opportunities for improving disaster prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery. This increases the risk of loss of life and adverse health consequences during disasters in the country.

“Ang daming disasters sa Pilipinas…tayo ang expert sa disaster, pero bakit ang nagpa-publish ng research ay mga banyaga? So, the goal is i-encourage natin ang mga Pinoy, kasi tayo expert, dapat tayo ang nagpa-publish,” Dr. Gundran said.

“Syempre pag meron kang evidence at research mai-improve yung planning in disaster response ng mga agencies. And then hopefully from this consultative meeting, magkaroon ng stronger partnership ang lahat ng nasa public health profession at ma-improve ang public health services,” he added.

Initial discussions for the research project titled “Development of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Health Research Agenda 2023-2028” commenced in Cebu City last January 31, 2024. These discussions involved representatives from the academe, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and local government units from the Visayas region. Another meeting was held for the Luzon research team on February 21, 2024 in Baguio City followed by the meeting for the NCR cluster on March 8, 2024.

The regional consultations will culminate in the Mindanao cluster, with meetings scheduled in Davao City from April 3 to 5, 2024. Following these consultations, the project plans to convene a national multi-stakeholder workshop on April 17, 2024, to finalize the findings and outcomes of the discussions.

The project team is composed of Dr. Gundran, UP Manila College of Public Health Professor Emeritus Dr. Ofelia Saniel, Department of Health Emergency Management Bureau Division Chief Dr. Ronald Law, climate change expert Dr. Jessie Manuta, Former Philippine General Hospital Director Dr. Johnny Nanagas, Immediate Past President of the Philippine College of Emergency Medicine Dr. Pauline Convocar, and UPM DRRM-H staff Ms. Trisha Puli, Ms. Janine Lardizabal, Ms. Jeanelle Oasin, Ms. Aubrey Magat, and Mr. Carl Tan.