A grand bash for the Promo Diva

CEBU, Philippines - Positioned at the front lines of climate change impacts, the Philippines is plagued by food and nutrition security concerns—a growing emergency. The worsening impact of climate change and the unpredictability of extreme weather events, such as typhoons, El Niño events or drought, are putting unnecessary stresses on the coping mechanisms of farmers who provide food for Filipinos.

GMA News TV airs a very timely documentary that highlights the need for our country to address the disastrous impacts of El Niño. Produced by the environmental group Greenpeace, “Surviving El Niño” tells the story of how Filipino farmers confront the challenges of climate change and of the need to shift to a more climate-resilient ecological farming.

Set against the backdrop of a developing El Niño, the story follows a number of farmers who are into organic and inorganic farming from different parts of the country—Bohol  Sorsogon, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and North Cotabato. The compelling drone shots that capture the breadth of the ill-effects of El Niño on our fields include those shot in Mindanao by GMA news anchor Raffy Tima.

As the National Elections draws near, this documentary also calls on the next president to prioritize food and agriculture by developing policies and programs to help transition the country’s farming system towards a more climate-resilient ecological agriculture, as well as equipping farmers with timely and localized weather information and an early warning system to enable farmers to plan well.

Greenpeace’s “Surviving El Niño” premieres on Philippine TV tomorrow, 5:30 p.m. on GMA News TV.   (FREEMAN)