ASPBAE’s support of E-Net Philippines in 2009 through the COE project gained even more immediate relevance. E-Net Philippines recognized that natural disasters and climate change greatly impacted on a government’s and a community’s capacity to provide quality education for its members. They realized that not only is education crucial for building sustainable development and a groundswell of support for it, but that climate change and human made disasters significantly deprive people of their right to education. This is even more relevant to poor and marginalized communities in disaster prone areas, who have limited access to education as it is and limited resources to cope with disasters and to implement ESD. What education facilities they have, such as learning centers and daycare centers need to be protected.
E-Net Philippines therefore worked with Paaralang Bayan ng Ayta sa Zambales (PBAZ), an indigenous organization in Central Luzon whose members live in communities that have been marginalized by economic activities and calamities. They conducted community Disaster Risk and Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping and research on the need for ESD in selected urban and rural poor communities.
The community mapping workshop and assessment was carried out by E-net Philippines and its partner community organizations in six areas, namely Zambales (3 villages), Bagong Silangan, Park way, Pasig (3 villages), Navotas and Manila.
As a follow-up to the mapping, participants from the six communities and representatives of other members of E-Net such as public school teachers and community educators participated in a training workshop on disaster risk reduction and ESD held 27-29 December 2009, to deepen their knowledge and capacity to advocate for ESD. The major topics covered included disaster risk assessment, disaster preparedness, psycho-social support, ESD and EFA frameworks.
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