Palawan State University Crafts Climate Change Education with PH Diaspora-EU Experts in Belgium

Representatives from the EUDIF, ICMPD, PCSDS, PSU, Brussels PE. and the Filipino diaspora professionals validate the outcomes of the climate change collaboration in their online meeting held on 24 August 2023.

BRUSSELS 04 September 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Brussels was invited by the European Union Global Diaspora Facility (EUDIF) / International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Team to their “End of Action” online meeting on 24 August 2023 to celebrate the completion of their nine-month long diaspora engagement project in collaboration with the Palawan Council on Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) and the Palawan State University (PSU).

Upon invitation of the ICMPD last year, the Philippine Embassy in Brussels, the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Berlin, and the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt coordinated in finding professionals from the Filipino diaspora to create

project proposals for funding by the EUDIF. Among those presented, the project proposal on

climate change adaptation presented by two Filipino diaspora professionals based in Germany, namely Dr. Denise Margaret Matias and Ms. Julie Amoroso Garbin, was approved by the EUDIF in April 2022. They were engaged by the EUDIF to work with the PCSDS and the PSU for the implementation of their project proposal under EUDIF’s “Diaspora Professionals 4 Development” project.

The project resulted in the creation of a curriculum on climate change adaptation crafted by Dr. Matias and Ms.  Garbin, in collaboration with the faculty of PSU and the PCSDS.  The curriculum module on environmental science is now part of PSU’s approved syllabus for Environmental Science. PSU is the only university in the Philippines that offers Environmental Education as a professional subject meeting international standards.

With this EUDIF/ICMPD project, the PCSDS and local government units (LGUs) are in a better position to access funding in the area of climate adaptation and tailor fit the projects to the needs of Palawan communities. The surveys and workshops conducted have enabled participants to prepare project proposals on climate change and community resiliency for the People’s Survival Funds for 2024.

The project also led to the formation of the Palawan Adaptation Vibrant Community E-group to create solid partnerships and streamlined efforts using practical and solutions-based approaches on environmental issues being faced by the municipalities. This will also serve as a support system for the participants to continue their momentum in capacity building for their existing and future projects.

As a whole, this EUDIF/ICMPD project is one shining example of far-reaching results of collaborations between the Philippines and its diaspora on a decentralized level involving local governments and academic institutions while opening more opportunities for future cooperation with the European Union. END

For more information, visit https://www.brusselspe.dfa.gov.ph,  https://www.facebook.com/PHinBelgium/ or https://www.instagram.com/phinbelgium/.