Written by Mark Andy Pedere
On May 14, 2025, the University of the Philippines – Resilience Institute (UP RI) held a Validation Session at UP SOLAIR Room 503 and via Zoom. This session forms part of the Philippines’ contribution to the ongoing global report titled “Landscape of Anticipatory Action for Health in a Changing Climate,” prepared for the Rockefeller Foundation. The report is being developed in collaboration with researchers from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Makerere University, Tufts University, and Universidad de los Andes.
Led by Dr. Glecy Atienza (Principal Investigator), the session validated key findings drawn from interviews conducted with health professionals and institutional representatives from selected Quezon City Health Centers (April 14–23, 2025) and various UP Diliman offices (March 13–21, 2025). Presentations were delivered by Dr. Carlos Primero D. Gundran (Co-Principal Investigator) and Dr. Leonard Javier (Research Assistant), who synthesized the insights emerging from the field.
Participating healthcare professionals included Dr. Michael Jonathan Palad (Bagong Silangan Health Center), Dr. Charissa L. Alisuag (Brgy. Pansol Health Center), Dr. Arnold E. Monteiro (Brgy. Project 6 Health Center), and Dr. Olive Esquivias (QCHD–DRRMH). From UP Diliman, key representatives also took part: Dr. Oliva S. Basuel (UP Health Service), Mr. Jose Abraham C. Ongkiko and Ms. Flordeliz Agra (UP Resilience Institute), Mr. Julius John Desamito and Ms. Gellie Ann Flores (Public Safety and Security Office), Ms. Ma. Theresa Reamon (DZUP), Mr. Rolando C. Delos Reyes II (All UP Academic Employees Union – Diliman Chapter), Mx. Ariannel Manoos and Mx. Ruver Abanto (UP University Student Council – Environmental Concerns Committee and Safety and Security), and Ms. Jasmine Martinez (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs). Research Assistants Chris Sanchez, Jamie Gundaya, Mark Andy Pedere, and Marvin Tenecio provided documentation and support.
The discussion highlighted several recurring issues that emerged across the interviews. One central insight was the need to frame anticipatory action through a threefold lens: disease, disaster, and community wellness. The session raised questions about whether hazard-driven or disease-driven models lead to more sustainable and inclusive health responses. While most barangays have an annual disaster budget, participants observed that such resources often fall short of material and operational needs.
Another concern raised was how people often rely on their effort and resources—what we call sweat equity—during times of crisis. While this demonstrates a strong sense of responsibility, it also reflects a culture of individualism that can hinder the organization of a truly collective and coordinated response. Participants also pointed out the uneven implementation of programs across different barangays, emphasizing the need for clearer evidence-based documentation to substantiate what works—and why—in certain areas but not in others.
As part of the Philippines’ official input to the global Landscape of Anticipatory Action for Health, this validation session reinforces the vital role of local, grounded data in crafting climate-resilient public health strategies. It reflects the country’s commitment to shaping a more evidence-informed, community-led, and anticipatory approach to protecting communities from the health impacts of climate change, both now and in the years ahead.