The Philippines

 

27 10, 2026

The Philippine lawyer who beat an oil giant: Rose Liza Eisma- Osori on defending Tañon Strait

2026-10-29T23:59:35-04:00Tags: |

In 2007, Philippine environmental lawyer Rose Liza Eisma-Osorio set out to stop Japan Petroleum Exploration (JAPEX) from drilling in Tañon Strait, a protected seascape between Cebu and Negros that is home to 14 whale and dolphin species. She and Gloria “Golly” Estenzo Ramos filed a petition that December naming the marine mammals as petitioners, with the two lawyers representing them as their stewards, at the same time as colleagues filed a second petition on behalf of fishing communities impacted by exploration activities. This approach was deliberate as Philippine courts require proof of personal injury, meaning if the court refused to hear the animals, the lawyers could still represent them as stewards, and the fisherfolk’s reduced catch would serve as the injury requirement. JAPEX withdrew before the court ruled, which Eisma-Osorio calls an early victory, and in April 2015 the Supreme Court voided the exploration contract and set a precedent that citizens can represent nature as stewards and give it legal standing without proving personal injury, making environmental cases easier to file. Rosa then joined Oceana Philippines, where she is now senior director of the campaign and legal departments, and helped develop a management plan for Tañon Strait, which had been protected since 1998 but never had a plan. Today she is organizing over the October 2025 ethanol wastewater spill in Bais Bay, where Silliman University scientists found killed up to 69% of coral cover. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has filed a criminal action against the corporation, and Oceana is consulting fishing communities to build a court case. Eisma-Osorio expects a long fight and says it must be waged alongside the community, that nothing about them should be without them.

5 06, 2026

A coastal Philippine farm offers a blueprint for farming with wetlands

2026-07-05T23:38:06-04:00Tags: |

Ninieveh Glinoga is the founder of the Glinoga Integrated Farm in the Philippines, whose lifelong connection to coastal ecosystems inspired her to develop a farming model that works in partnership with nature. Having spent her life living alongside mangrove forests, she recognized that wetlands are essential for protecting communities from flooding, erosion, and other climate impacts. This understanding led her to transform her family's land into an integrated farm that produces food while supporting ecosystem restoration. She designed the farm to incorporate mangrove conservation, diversified crops, aquaculture, livestock, and regenerative land management. Her approach has enhanced biodiversity compared with surrounding mangrove areas while strengthening climate resilience. Glinoga also prioritizes education, opening the farm as a learning space where farmers, students, and visitors can gain hands-on experience with nature-based agricultural practices and carry these practices forward. She demonstrates that healthy ecosystems and productive farms are mutually reinforcing. Her work is a powerful example of how community-centered, ecosystem-based solutions can address climate change while supporting both people and the environment.

5 03, 2026

Manila’s Commuters Pushed for Safer Streets — and Won

2026-05-25T23:29:52-04:00Tags: |

What if a city was built for people rather than cars? Well in Manila, where only 1% of road spending supported the 94% of residents that walked, biked or took public transport, this was not the case. Residents had to deal with broken sidewalks, unreliable timetables, and overcrowded vehicles. However, not anymore. The Move As One Coalition advocated for a people-centered approach and won! What led to this success? It’s in their name! 142 organizations that had separately advocated for reforms, moved as one behind a shared strategy. These organizations included “jeepney drivers, bus operators, commuters, disability advocates, women’s groups, youth organizers, LGBTQ+ activists and cycling groups” totaling 77,000 people. One of those people was Doc Mau, a disability advocate, who would fear going out as she walked between 5,000 and 10,000 steps daily on crutches. Instead, she and the almost 2 million residents of Manila now can now enjoy bike lanes, car-free zones, and dedicated busways. Together, the Move As One Coalition successfully reshaped transport policy to be more inclusive, affordable, and safe. No wonder this coalition won the 2025-2026 World Resources Institute grand prize. They have shown the world just how powerful people can be.

27 06, 2024

42 new FSL signs created so Deaf can participate in climate change discourse

2026-05-28T13:27:08-04:00Tags: |

Filipino Sign Language (FSL) has been missing words such as “ecosystem,” “climate change adaptation,” and “sustainable development.” Without these key words, Deaf communities were barred from understanding climate issues, participating in sustainable solutions, and protecting themselves from environmental emergencies. 42 new signs have since been developed thanks to the Oscar M. Lopez Center and Project SIGND. The project took two years and led to the discovery of over 1,000 signs that already existed that had the potential to convey 26 climate change concepts. These were then uploaded to an online data portal for the public and academics to view and use. However, for climate concepts where no sign existed, the staff went through a rigorous analysis, development, and evaluation process to develop new signs. One of the people teaching these new signs is Ms. Diana Vizmanos, a Deaf education instructor. She, along with the project researchers, show us that while developing climate-related language is the first step in educating Deaf people about climate change, it’s an even bigger step in bringing their voices to the forefront of environmental conversations.

2 06, 2014

Coral Triangle countries highlight women leadership in marine conservation

2026-10-30T17:49:22-04:00Tags: , , , , , |

Six women leaders from the Coral Triangle region, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, are being recognized and given funding to continue to advance and expand on their advocacy work. These six countries came together to launch a platform, with the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF), to uplift the role of women environmental defenders working towards protecting an epicenter of marine biodiversity. They call themselves the CTI-CFF Women Leader's Forum and support women leadership through a network of peer-learning  and capacity building. The women leaders being honored come from each country, with their work often going unrecognized. They include Ms. Lotang from Indonesia, who leads CBO Cinta Persahabatan, a local organization that promotes coral reef protection, sustainable fishing practices, and enforcement against destructive fishing methods; Ms. Winfield from Malaysia, founder of the Kudat Turtle Conservation Society, which supports the protection of turtles and their habitats; Ms. Langarap from Papua New Guinea, coordinator of the Manus Environmental Communities Conservation Network, which supports community-led marine conservation; Ms. Bool from the Philippines, treasurer of the Sama Samang Nagkakaisang Pamayanan ng Silonay, which strengthens community resilience to climate change; Ms. Dasipio from the Solomon Islands, president of the Mother’s Union, which provides community conservation and environmental education; and Ms. Mendes from Timor-Leste, leader of the Com Women’s Group, which promotes marine conservation. Through this CTI-CFF Women Leaders’ Forum, the countries hope to recognize the crucial role women have in protecting marine biodiversity while supporting more equitable coastal resource management.

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