On June 13, AMIHAN National Federation of Peasant Women, Climate Change Network for Community-based Initiatives (CCNCI), Philippine Network of Food Security Programmes (PNFSP), and Citizens’ Disaster Response Center Foundation, Inc. (CDRC) conducted a forum entitled: Tigang na Bukid – Dalitang Buhay: Sigaw Para sa Nararapat na Ayuda sa Gitna ng Pagbabago ng Klima at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) PARDEC Hall. The forum aims to highlight the struggle of peasants and peasant women amidst El Niño and climate change and their concerted effort with other sectors in advancing people-centric and democratic solutions to mitigate the impacts.

Based on PAG-ASA’s forecast, 51 provinces are expected to experience #drought by the end of the month, while 32 provinces will experience dry spell. Ten (10) provinces are now under state of calamity. A total of 44 cities and municipalities have likewise declared state of calamity.

Based on the NDRRMC report on April 18, 2019, agricultural damage cost P5,051,249,880 affecting 78,691 families or 393,455 persons in Regions IX and XII and 164,672 farmers affecting 177,743 hectares of agricultural land, mostly rice and corn.

Farmers from Occidental Mindoro, Bikol and Eastern Visayas attested to their struggles and demanded that the government implement “effective preventive and rehabilitative measures to ease its consequences especially on farmers.”

Citizens’ Disaster Response Center Foundation, Inc. (CDRC) shared drought situational reports from regional partners Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services, Leyte Center for Development, Inc. and Western Mindanao Disaster Response Center (WMDR).

AGHAM discussed pro-people technology and best practices on addressing the impact of climate change.