Suggested policy actions
From the results of the action research implemented
during the project, it is possible to put forward
recommended policy actions to be implemented by
local communities, local government units, NGOs and
national-level government agencies.
Strengthen disaster risk reduction and
climate change adaptation in pilot
communities
In communities where participatory action research
was undertaken in the Philippines, DRR and CCA
activities can be enhanced by integrating LINK
pertaining to meteorological hazards prediction,
warning, preparedness, response and recovery into
their programs, projects and activities. The LINKs with
scientific, technological and sociological bases can
be easily integrated into community plans through
the Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Program of each community.
Pursue local and indigenous knowledge
integration with science across the country
Since documenting and assessing LINK in
communities is imperative, participatory action
research should be replicated in other communities.
More communities would be able to participate in
this exercise if national or local policies endorse the
implementation of LINK assessment and scientific
integration. Policies can be formulated at the
community level to implement a tool called “Local
and Indigenous Knowledge and Practices Inventory,
Validation, and Establishing Scientific Knowledge
(LIVE Scientific Knowledge)”, described in section 3.4.1
below, while implementation at the national level can
be carried out through a program for this purpose.
Promote validation of local and indigenous
knowledge with science in schools and
through university projects and research
At the local level, the integration of LINK in science
and technology can be undertaken as part of projects
and activities in schools, colleges and universities:
In elementary and secondary education, students
can be instructed to validate some of the LINKs
practised in their community through school
projects. Students can observe LINKs and then
report what happened after the observations.
These exercises will not only make the students
aware of the local and indigenous knowledge
but will enable them to appreciate the scientific
explanation for the LINK being practised in their
community.
At the tertiary level, studies to establish scientific
bases for local and indigenous knowledge can
be pursued as part of student research projects,
theses and dissertations, and can be undertaken
by university professors and researchers. Biologists
can focus on animal behaviour and observations
of plants; marine scientists can study fish
behaviour and changes in the oceans. Physicists
and meteorologists would be able to provide
scientific bases for LINKs related to observations
of the moon, sun, stars, clouds and sky while social
scientists can conduct research that allow us to
better understand the traditions, customs and
beliefs that will help people in disasters.
National universities can be influenced to pursue
research that examines LINKs and their scientific
explanations if national agencies in the education,
science and technology sectors provide the mandates
and financial support.
Integrate science with local and indigenous
knowledge for disaster risk reduction and
climate change adaptation programs and
projects
Government entities, NGOs, and research agencies
undertaking DRR and CCA programs and projects
can strengthen their knowledge and practices by
incorporating LINK with a scientific explanation.
Strategies, programs, projects and activities can be
reviewed to identify any relevant LINK, followed by
validation to establish the scientific basis and help
improve the accuracy of each practice.
The integration of LINK with scientific knowledge
is only possible through the development of tools
that help validate the knowledge. Each policy action
put forward in this section can be operationalised
by using the tools as shown below in table 3.1. Both
tools are described in the next sections.