December 15, 2015
Philippines
Caritas Czech Republic, together with partner organization Rice Watch, launched activities in the Philippines to enhance the ability of farmers to adapt to climate changes in areas affected by typhoon Haiyan (locally called Yolanda) in November 2013. In addition to the introduction of an early warning system via mobile applications, Caritas also plans to establish a training centre.
In the centre, farmers learn what possibilities exist for adapting their agricultural activities to climate change. A total number of 300 people living in six areas of three Philippine provinces (particularly in Marabut and Basey on the island of Samar and autonomous area Ormoc on the island of Leyte) will undergo the training.
Finally, Caritas plans to introduce a functional information system alerting Filipinos about sudden natural disasters and also providing additional data about long term climate changes.
Caritas chose these three areas because of their vulnerability to further natural disasters where occurrence in the future is, according to climate experts, more likely. Moreover, typhoon Haiyan two years ago affected mainly the islands of Samar and Leyte in the Visayas archipelago, when 6,190 people lost their lives and about one million homes were completely destroyed. Damage to crops has soared to 18,4 billion Philippine pesos (about 9,4 billion CZK) and damage to infrastructure reached almost the same amount.
