John Paul

Among the many factors that lead to abrupt or gradual changes in the environment, climate change is one of those that prominently disrupt and influence various aspects of how Filipinos live their lives. The chief culprit is the rising global temperatures driving starker-weather extremes like more powerful typhoons, longer droughts and more sporadic rainfall. Typhoons wreck havoc across the Philippines, an archipelago prone to flooding, landslides and infrastructure damage. Such extreme weather conditions cause significant agriculture disruptions, have serious effects on food security, and put lives as well livelihoods at the coastlines and rural parts of the countries at risk. Moreover, killing trees and misusing natural resources worsen the already degraded environment. The massive deforestation from logging, mining and urbanization has removed forests that once acted as storm surges against floods and erosion but also mangroves or the wetlands. Lacking these ecosystems leaves many vu...

 This year's National Children's Month Celebration (NCMC) led by the Council for the Welfare of Children which adopts this as an overarching theme titled, "Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protect Children Create a Safe Philippines,"calls to action on addressing our children's well-being in so many levels. The entire focus is on addressing and preventing violence, including in all its forms — physical or emotional or sexual violence and for that matter, also neglect and exploitation against children. This theme matches with the world urges of having children grow in an environment that ensures their rights on safety and dignity and protected. Emphasises breaking away from cycles of violence or abuse, typically embedded due to flaws in the system like poverty, inequality and absence of education or awareness. It urges both government and society to strengthen protection measures for them but simultaneously advocates for policies, laws or interventions that c...