A team from the Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) Project, implemented by the Department of Agriculture–National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) under the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FISHCORE) Program, conducted a five-day training workshop on May 25-29, 2026 in Tibiao, Antique.

The activity marks the first rollout of the CRVA Project outside its priority sites in Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs) 6 and 9, following a formal request from the local government unit (LGU) of Tibiao.

“We are deeply grateful to NFRDI for accommodating our request and for sharing valuable knowledge and insights that will help us innovate and adapt climate-resilient technologies. We, at LGU of Tibiao, wholeheartedly support these initiatives and training programs as we work together toward a better and more resilient future for our municipality,” said Tibiao Mayor Klemens Bandoja.

The CRVA team led by Vanessa Mae Escano, Senior Science Research Specialist opened the session with a discussion on climate change and an introduction to the CRVA framework, emphasizing its role as a key tool for climate adaptation planning and policy development.

This was followed by Emmanuel Sanchez, Science Research Specialist I, who discussed the CRVA data gathering and extraction process. He guided participants on proper data collection methods from various sources and demonstrated data analysis techniques using QGIS and other relevant software tools.

On the final day, Janabless Tejada, Science Research Specialist I, presented the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) component of the framework. She also facilitated a mock survey and provided a step-by-step guide on data encoding and analysis.

The activity was attended by representatives from LGU, particularly from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO). Faculty members from the University of Antique also actively participated, along with fisherfolk representatives, including barangay captains, members of the Bantay Dagat task force, and the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC).

The CRVA for fisheries aims to assess coastal communities most vulnerable to climate risks and provide strategic, science-based interventions tailored to local needs. The training marks a significant step in strengthening nationwide awareness of climate change and advancing the use of the CRVA tool as a vital instrument for fisheries adaptation and resilience. ### (Janabless Tejada)