Negotiating Climate Change: Vulnerabilities and Resilience of Four Benguet Communities

Abstract

A part of a bigger project titled Enhanced Climate Change Adaptation Capacity of Communities in Contiguous Fragile Ecosystems in the Cordillera under the program Strengthening the Philippine Institutional Capacity for Adaptation to Climate Change, the study is a socioeconomic profiling and assessment of the vulnerability and adaptation mechanisms of Benguet communities to climate change. Conducted with another parallel study, the biophysical characterization of selected Benguet communities was done using key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and survey. Results indicate that Benguet communities with variable sources of livelihood are more resilient. Climatic changes observed and felt by respondents generally agree with observed changes by PAGASA noted as still ‘normal’ although the temperature and rainfall pattern are pronounced as some of the manifestations of climate change. These communities are also replete with mechanisms both at the farm and household level to negotiate changes in the climate. Such mechanisms, however, are not necessarily sustainable.