Advancing Climate Change Awareness and Preparedness in the Agriculture Sector of Calamba, Laguna

The Problem

Climate change disproportionately affects smallholder farmers across Southeast Asia, particularly in regions where agriculture remains a key driver of local economies and food systems. In the Philippines, a country highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, rural communities are on the frontlines of this crisis. The municipality of Calamba in Laguna Province, located south of Metro Manila, provides a compelling case of both challenge and opportunity for community-based adaptation.

Farmers in Calamba are increasingly affected by climate change’s negative impacts. Extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and typhoons disrupt agricultural production and food security in the city. Such disasters have resulted in huge losses to staple crops like rice, corn, and vegetables, thus affecting the livelihood of farming communities.

In addition, farmers face insufficient access to climate-resilient technologies and a lack of awareness about how to deal with climate change’s impacts. Sixteen percent of the Philippine population, or roughly 16 million people, are undernourished. This highlights the critical importance of addressing food security challenges by fostering awareness and preparedness regarding climate change.

The Opportunity

The collaboration between the City Agricultural Services Department (CASD) and the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) presented an opportunity to bridge gaps in knowledge and resources. By educating farmers about climate change and equipping them with tools like crop insurance and disaster preparedness strategies, the partnership aimed to strengthen food security and build resilience against climate-related risks. With aligned objectives under SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, and SDG 13: Climate Action, this initiative set the stage for meaningful change.

The use of the EPIC Model enabled this collaboration by linking academic expertise with local government priorities through structured engagement. It allowed students and faculty to work directly on real-world problems, producing locally relevant, practical solutions for climate resilience and food security.

This endeavor also created space for improving the city’s food security plan through community participation. Social media and interactive tools were important in expanding the conversation to include younger populations and farming communities, which are often disadvantaged.

The Partnership

The partnership between the City Agricultural Services Department (CASD), the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) graduate classes in Development Communication and Development Management played a critical role in linking academic learning with community needs. CASD provided essential insights into the challenges faced by local farmers, while the academic team developed information, education, and communication (IEC) materials and analysed the city’s food security plan.

Graduate students, as part of their coursework in Development Communication and Development Management, conducted focus group discussions and interviews with farmer leaders and local officials to gather data on the impacts of climate change on agriculture and to identify preferred communication channels. The partnership enabled students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, while providing the city with practical, community-driven insights.

Outputs from the partnership included tarpaulins, radio scripts, handouts, and video reels designed to educate farmers and promote practical solutions, such as enrollment in the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC). In addition, the partnership produced actionable recommendations to strengthen the city’s food security plan, including developing planting calendars aligned with climate patterns and promoting urban farming practices.

Graduate students conducted focus group discussions and interviews with farmer leaders and local officials to gather data on the impact of climate change on agriculture and the preferred channels for communication. Outputs included tarpaulins, radio scripts, handouts, and videos to inform farmers and promote practical solutions, such as enrollment in the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

Recommendations were also made to enhance the city’s food security plan by integrating climate change considerations. These included reviewing existing policies and suggesting strategies like developing climate-aligned planting calendars and encouraging urban farming practices.

The Result

The partnership delivered effective results. More than 150 hand fans with climate change information and two tarpaulins promoting crop insurance were distributed to farmers. Video reels were shared via social media to reach a broader audience, including the younger generation. According to CASD personnel, there is growing interest among farmers in disaster preparedness and crop insurance programs.

The food security plan also benefitted from actionable recommendations, which CASD will integrate into its 2025 revision. These include promoting urban agriculture, strengthening disaster risk reduction strategies, and involving youth in sustainable farming practices. Both the IEC materials and academic recommendations were presented at the National Conference of the Philippine Agriculturists Association, helping amplify their impact and broaden their reach.

Together, these efforts have enhanced Calamba’s ability to adapt to climate change while working toward a more stable and secure local food system.

Looking Ahead

Future plans for the partnership include sustaining the use of IEC materials by scaling up their implementation through local government units and expanding their reach across farming communities. CASD will continue to adopt UPLB’s recommendations while fostering ongoing engagement with youth and farmers.

This collaboration is a strong example of how the EPIC Model can be effectively applied in the Asian context. It demonstrates that universities and local governments can co-create low-cost, high-impact solutions to real-world challenges. As part of the broader EPIC Asia, this initiative contributes to a growing body of practice that highlights how applied student learning can support local adaptation efforts, especially in vulnerable agricultural regions.

Through these sustained partnerships, supported by the EPIC-N model and the continued promotion of innovative and practical farming techniques, Calamba can build a more resilient agricultural sector in the face of climate change.

Partnership Contact Information

City Government of Calamba, the Philippines
Dr. Tessa Mar Llamas-Espino
Agriculture Specialist

tessamarespino@gmail.com

Written by: Jonathan Kroeze
Edited by: Kay Phanthuwongpakdee