Small island communities in the Philippines remain highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their limited land area, dependence on natural resources, and exposure to extreme weather events.
Recognizing the need to strengthen resilience in these vulnerable areas, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), in partnership with University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), implemented the project, “Island ReGen: Assessment of the Resilience of Small Island Communities and Gender Roles Towards Alleviating Climate Change Impacts.” The project was implemented for two years and four months, from February 1, 2024 to April 30, 2026.
The project assessed the ecological, agricultural, and social resilience of small island communities in the Philippines, while examining the role of gender in climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation. Conducted in the islands of Marinduque and Busuanga in Palawan, the study evaluated communities’ adaptive capacity to climate-related risks using a resilience assessment tool based on 20 indicators from the Satoyama Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS) toolkit, complemented by social surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary data analysis.
DOST-PCAARRD’s Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD) conducted the terminal review on April 28, 2026, during which the project team presented the study’s results and findings. The review was facilitated by Ms. Monica Castillo and attended by the project team led by Dr. Darlene P. Lovina, external evaluators Mr. Dennis dela Torre and Ms. Kriszia Lorrain Enriquez-Gascon, and representatives from various DOST-PCAARRD divisions.
Project results
Results revealed that both Marinduque and Busuanga Islands exhibit a moderate level of resilience to climate change impacts. Strong performance was observed in disaster management, ecotourism, and community-based landscape and seascape governance, supported by shared gender roles in local adaptation efforts. Despite these strengths, the study emphasized that despite this relative stability, both islands remain vulnerable to climate-related risks and require strengthened adaptive capacities to better respond to future environmental stressors.
The project highlighted the continued value of traditional ecological knowledge, which remains verbally transmitted across generations but is not widely practiced or formally documented. Findings further underscored the importance of biodiversity, local crop diversity, and stakeholder collaboration in strengthening resilience across island communities.
Based on the results, the project recommended several strategies to strengthen climate resilience, including investing in environmental watch groups, promoting climate-resilient agricultural innovations, strengthening market linkages for local products, improving health systems, and conserving local crop varieties and indigenous resources. Policy recommendations focused on proactive climate action, nature-based solutions, stronger enforcement of environmental laws, integration of traditional ecological knowledge into conservation efforts, and gender mainstreaming in local climate adaptation strategies.
The terminal review further highlighted opportunities to strengthen the project’s policy and implementation pathways. Evaluators recommended aligning outputs with local and national planning mechanisms, such as the Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP), Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs), and national climate frameworks to ensure practical application by local government units (LGUs). Opportunities for integrating resilience financing, renewable energy for livelihood adaptation, digital early warning systems, and technology transfer mechanisms, were likewise discussed to support future scaling and uptake of project outputs.
As part of its implementation, the project established partnerships with the municipalities of Boac, Buenavista, Busuanga, and Coron, as well as with academic and community institutions including Marinduque State University, Palawan State University, and the Regalo ng Kilit Foundation, Inc. A training workshop on gender sensitivity and biodiversity conservation was also conducted for stakeholders in Busuanga and Coron, further strengthening local awareness and engagement on climate resilience and environmental stewardship.
Ultimately, Project Island ReGen contributes to strengthening the resilience of small island communities by generating evidence-based, locally grounded strategies for climate adaptation and sustainable resource management. In line with its national mandate in the Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources (AANR) sector, DOST-PCAARRD remains committed to supporting initiatives that enhance climate resilience, strengthen biodiversity conservation, and promote sustainable development in vulnerable communities across the country.