Philippine Climate Change Commission Honors Women and Youth for Local Resilience Initiatives

The Climate Change Commission (CCC) celebrated exemplary women and youth champions advancing climate resilience at the 2025 Philippine Resilience Awards held on Monday at the Philippine Normal University gymnasium in Manila. CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized the crucial role of community-centered leadership in fortifying the nation’s capacity to withstand climate challenges. In his address, Borje stated, "The true test of resilience is not how often we rebuild, but how rarely we are broken."

Highlighting the awardees’ pivotal contributions, Borje described them as "micro-entrepreneurs, scientists, custodians of traditional knowledge, and community organizers who prove that women and youth are not on the sidelines of climate action—they are at the heart of it." He urged a shift from merely reacting to disasters towards proactive, protective measures and called for broader adoption of community-driven innovations, stressing that isolated successes are insufficient given the Philippines’ archipelagic geography and escalating climate threats.

Among the honored women were Dr. Diana Rose Cajipe for the "Buong Bansa Handa" initiative, Jenelyn Salimbagat for developing a Family Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Plan, and Renebelita Fuentebella for "Damit Dignidad Pilipinas." The recognition also extended to five outstanding youth advocates: Raymart Garcia for the Reskyusi Food Basket Program, Shri Tahanie Macaumbao for Green by Design, Val Amiel Vestil for "Kwentong Kalikasan," Peter John Enorio for his Subang Environmental Initiatives, and Christian Hernandez for Project MOSES.

Borje reaffirmed that effective resilience requires "science, purpose, planning, and action—not sentiment" and reiterated the CCC’s commitment to scaling successful grassroots models throughout the country. He remarked, "It is painful that we are suffering losses and damages, but we cannot be nailed to the losses and damages. We must transform into something more resilient. And we can only do that if we keep on doing our part, not just today, not just within our communities, but beyond."