Families that live in the agricultural communities in Rizal province suffer low yields and loss of income due to drought, insect infestations, diseased crops, typhoons and soil erosion. Moreover, unseasonably hot temperatures and drought reduce working hours in farms which reduce harvest; as a result, the capacity of women to feed their children is affected negatively. This policy brief documents the impact of climate change and how it exacerbates gender inequalities, as well as presenting some policy demands to promote meaningful changes for women in this community.

Climate change has a direct effect on income and gender roles in the communities, as well as affecting the family health. As a result of the economic stress caused by climate change, women make numerous adaptation strategies such as home gardening, adjusting crop variety and methods to combat pests, and farming knowledge.

In conclusion, there is an urgent need for government action to strengthen insecure land tenure in the region, especially for women. Further efforts should be made to scale up opportunities for women’s community-level involvement in adaptation strategies since there is a lack of empowerment programs for them. Besides, climate-sensitive sectors and vulnerable groups, such as women and children, are most likely to be affected, yet there isn’t a clear action plan to protect these at-risk sectors and populations.