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Losing sight of science, a peril to development?

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Ignorance of science is absolutely a peril to development. This was a buzzword from Dr. Kelvin S. Rodolfo, an Earth and Environmental Scientist who spoke in a forum organized by the Urban Poor Associates this morning regarding the impacts of the proposed 27.3 kilometers embankment project to be built from Tacloban City to Palo and Tanauan, Leyte. Having extensively worked on the field of geological sciences, disaster risks reduction and climate change studies, his technical inputs uncovered many unforeseen impacts of the tide embankment as the  engineering works take-off. In his lectures, he presented several cases of ground movements and observable environmental hazards associated with poorly planned protective infrastructure projects.  He emphasized  that any planned development that entails alteration of the existing ecosystem and massive displacement of communities should be science-informed, otherwise these will only create more disasters. Dr.Kelvin Rodolfo ...
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PFV Community observes a traditional house cleansing ritual

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The belief in the supernatural is very prominent in the Filipino culture. Performing some house cleansing rituals come into play when, people are building houses or moving to a new house. Generally people do these to ward off evil spirits and other mystical entities. As a show of respect to traditional practices of Taclobanons, I have documented a seasoned ritual called “Padugo” or offering blood of an animal as a form of sacrifice at Pope Francis Village yesterday. The ritual was performed during the pre-concrete pouring for foundations of the first batch of rowhouse units.. It involves slitting of the throat of three white chickens and dripping the blood to the excavated holes before actual pouring of cement. This was performed by a folk healer who happened to be one of the community members of Pope Francis Village. According to traditional beliefs, this practice of taking the life of a sacrificed animal will prevent the evil forces from taking the life of workers or anyone conne...
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Disaster Survivors, Humanitarian and Development Actors Speak on Key Takeaways from Typhoon Yolanda Recovery and Rehabilitation

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It's been over two years and a half  since Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan), a massively catastrophic, level 3 disaster ravaged the Philippine archipelago. It presented huge challenges to affected communities, who despite the outpouring funding support from multi-lateral organizations, official aid agencies, non-governmental and other private-sector organizations continue to grapple with poverty and marginalization. The scale of disaster impacts likewise changed the landscape in which humanitarian and development actors operated and responded at the height of disaster response, recovery and rehabilitation. Although there have been numerous researches, evaluations and conferences conducted by different organizations related to the state of Yolanda recovery and rehabilitation, integration of much needed information and lessons to collectively address the issues of Yolanda survivors is highly wanting.  It was the first time that Development and Peace-Caritas Canada along with CBCP-N...
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