By Niña Allyn Rose Amase
CPU Outreach Student Volunteers Society (CPU-OSVS) representatives, together with Prof. Sarex Dalida Dipol, Jr., Community Engagement and Service-Learning (CESL) Director, pose for a group photo after signing their commitment to Greenpeace Philippines’ Community Climate Response Hub (CCRH).
On July 15, 2025, Greenpeace Philippines, together with local volunteers in Iloilo, organized a public forum at LS Café, Iloilo City. The event, dubbed ‘The Climate Crisis and Role of Community Response: A Learning Session on Localized Climate Impacts,’ brought together members of civil society, local governments, environmental groups, and academic institutions, including the CPU Outreach Student Volunteers Society (CPU-OSVS) who committed to the initiative.
The half-day event served as a platform to deepen public understanding of the climate crisis at the community level, and provide a range of reports and discussions in shaping urban development and climate change adaptation efforts. Invited speakers include Dr. Ma. Laurice Jamero, Ms. Donna Magno, Dr. Ronald Law, and Ms. Cathy Manalo who highlighted the significant causes of climate change, its mitigation and its adaptation particularly at the local level.
Dr. Jamero, Senior Scientist for Resilience Manila Observatory Center, also emphasized the alarming and increasing record of global temperature surpassing 1.5 degrees over the past year, despite efforts to limit the increase to below 2 degrees. Furthermore, an Iloilo Heat Map Report was featured, identifying local areas with alarming heat indexes. Ms. Donna Magno, Iloilo City Risk Reduction and Management Officer, also presented areas in the city that are vulnerable in flooding; one example is San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City, which is also near Central Philippine University.
The forum culminated in the launch of Iloilo’s Community Climate Response Hub (CCRH), a vital initiative bringing together local civil society. These hubs are envisioned as community-driven centers, empowering residents to lead efforts in building climate resilience and responding to environmental challenges.
In conclusion, in an era where the impacts of climate change are increasingly profound and communities bear the brunt of its severity, the unified action of student-led and volunteer organizations is not just significant—it is absolutely essential. Their collective dedication offers a beacon of hope and a powerful testament to the strength found in community.