by Rene V. Carbayas
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Zamboanga advocates for climate change resiliency underwent a Trainors’ Training on Advocacy for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation last September 4-5 that aims to enhance advocates’ knowledge and skills to address public apathy on the issue of global warming and its impact to people’s lives.
Some forty advocates participated in the training-workshop, to include ZABIDA, Social Action Center of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, SILSILAH Dialogue Movement with friends from Zamboanga Watershed Movement, the city link personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, selected barangay officials in vulnerable communities in Zamboanga and Basilan, the Department of Education, and the Philippine Information Agency-IX.
The participants received vital information from short talks on the first day from resource persons, namely: Maribel G. Enriquez of PAGASA (on weather and climate), Engr. Allan Rommel Labayog of PHIVOLCS (on earthquake and preparedness), and Emilia Vasquez-Julhajan of Office of Civil Defense-IX (on disaster adaptation and mitigation). The PIA handled the session on climate change and global warming.
Dr. Elmeir Apolinario, Acting City Administrator and OIC Action Officer of the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council joined the rest of the resource persons during the short forum after the talks. Apolinario emphasized that the city is manning the council with professionals, like engineers and medical personnel to boost the capability of the CDRRMC to respond effectively and efficiently to disasters and emergency situations.
Through role play and dramatization, the participants experienced how to do advocacy on particular subject like, promotion of breast feeding, eating of vegetables, anti-illegal drugs campaign, lobbying for a barangay infra project like basketball court for the youth, and selling memorial plan, among others.
Dave G. Malcampo, PIA9-ZBST Infocenter Manager processed the participants’ workshop output in terms of weak and strong points in doing advocacy as he connects the entire process in reducing people’s apathy on the impact of climate change.
During the said training, some participants expressed their realization on learning a lot of strategies and techniques in doing advocacy and also the need to enhance their communication skills.
A barangay official, who is also a retired military personnel revealed that for his years in the military service, it is only during the seminar that he encountered the sixteen techniques of advocacy.
Malcampo, however stressed that the first thing that an advocate must possess is interest and passion on the subject. “Interest is your driving force to learn,” Malcampo said as he discussed some tips in doing advocacy.
During the planning session of the different participating groups, the participants were convinced and compelled to widen the dissemination and information drive on the issue of climate change and its impact in Zamboanga Peninsula region.