Seven Women and Youth Champions Honoured at Philippine Resilience Awards 2026

Seven women and youth leaders from across the Philippines have been honoured at the 2026 Philippine Resilience Awards for turning local knowledge into practical protection against climate and disaster risks.

The fourth edition of the awards was held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, recognising two youth champions and five women champions whose projects range from disability-inclusive disaster preparedness to climate-resilient farming and fishing.

Each awardee will receive a cash grant of up to 150,000 Philippine pesos, along with a medallion and a plaque, and continued support to expand their initiatives across the country, according to the Philippine News Agency’s report of the ceremony.

The awards were conceived in 2023 by Senator Loren Legarda and are run as a multi-stakeholder programme of the Climate Change Commission, together with the Philippine Commission on Women, the National Resilience Council, SM Prime, the Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction and ARISE Philippines.

Two youth champions lead from the front

James Nathaniel Refugio, founder of Bicolano Young Leaders Initiatives and a planning officer in Naga City, was recognised for the Bicolano Young Leaders Program, which equips young people with leadership skills and practical tools for climate action, environmental protection and disaster resilience.

Ervie Ann C. Conte was honoured for the Paglajag Program, named from a Surigaonon word meaning “to sail”. It promotes environmental conservation, literacy, nutrition and sustainable livelihood in last-mile island communities in Siargao, Surigao del Norte. An earlier Commission validation visit described seven pillars behind the programme, including environmental workshops, creativity sessions, values formation, literacy, nutrition, livelihood and income-generating initiatives, and a scholarship programme.

Five women champions, five fronts of resilience

Deborah C. Dacanay, head of the Quezon City Persons with Disability Affairs Office, was recognised for advancing disability-inclusive disaster preparedness and climate resilience through inclusive planning and sustainable livelihood initiatives.

Dr Angelina P. Galang of Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment, and Sustainable Economy was honoured for Ako ang Bukas, an initiative that promotes ecological sustainability and climate awareness.

Marife Matic Mustacisa of Samar State University was recognised for LETs CARE-AGHAM, short for Livelihood Empowerment through Sustainable Climate-Resilient Agri-Aqua and Natural Resources Enhancement, which strengthens climate-resilient agriculture, fisheries, food security and livelihoods in vulnerable coastal communities.

Rebecca “Nini” Ynares, former governor of Rizal, was honoured for the YES Program, a provincial initiative that integrates environmental management, waste reduction, greening and disaster risk reduction.

Mylene A. Rivera, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, was recognised for the PLANADO Program, short for Plan and Do, which advances risk-informed land-use planning and climate-resilient settlements through digital tools and improved local governance.

What the champions receive, and what comes next

Beyond the grants, the awards give champions a shared platform. The organisers run a Community of Practice that highlights community-driven solutions and connects resilience champions with the support they need to strengthen their work.

The ceremony also launched the Philippine Resilience Awards Compendium 2023-2025, including video documentaries of past champions, and the PRA Digital Hub, a repository of awardees’ stories, advocacy efforts and resources. The convenors renewed their memorandum of agreement, pledging continued support for women and youth on the frontlines of climate action.

“The renewal of this MOA reaffirms our collective commitment to recognize and elevate the indispensable contributions of women and youth on the frontlines of climate action, while strengthening their capacities to sustain and scale their work,” Senator Legarda said.

Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said the awards matter “because it recognizes people who make resilience practical in their communities”, adding that the convenors’ role is to listen, learn and connect those experiences with the support communities need.

Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera described the champions as “people who chose to confront the challenges before them and build solutions”, calling their stories “stories of hope, showing how young trailblazers turned academic knowledge into practical solutions, from hazard maps to environmental monitoring systems”.

The Commission used the occasion to urge early action and climate-ready communities, warning that forecasts must guide government decisions before communities feel the full effects of climate hazards, as El Niño could persist into the first half of 2027. The ceremony came days before COP31 opens in Antalya, Türkiye, on 9 November 2026.

Key facts

• Event: 4th Philippine Resilience Awards 2026, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila, 28 October 2026.
• Awardees: seven in total — two youth champions and five women champions.
• Each awardee receives: a cash grant of up to 150,000 Philippine pesos, a medallion and a plaque, plus continued support.
• Programme: conceived in 2023 by Senator Loren Legarda; run by the Climate Change Commission with five partner organisations.
• Also launched: the PRA Compendium 2023-2025, video documentaries of past champions, and the PRA Digital Hub.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Philippine Resilience Awards?

They are a multi-stakeholder recognition programme of the Philippines’ Climate Change Commission, conceived in 2023 by Senator Loren Legarda, that honours women and youth whose initiatives help communities prepare for climate and disaster risks.

Who won in 2026?

Two youth champions — James Nathaniel Refugio and Ervie Ann C. Conte — and five women champions — Deborah C. Dacanay, Dr Angelina P. Galang, Marife Matic Mustacisa, Rebecca “Nini” Ynares and Mylene A. Rivera.

What do the winners receive?

Each awardee receives a cash grant of up to 150,000 Philippine pesos, a medallion and a plaque, and continued support to expand and strengthen their resilience initiatives nationwide.

What is the PRA Digital Hub?

It is a repository launched at the 2026 ceremony where stakeholders can explore champions’ work, access resources and learn how resilience is being advanced across the Philippines.

Why does the Commission stress early action?

Because climate forecasts must guide government decisions before communities feel the full effects of hazards. The Commission noted that El Niño could persist into the first half of 2027, making climate-informed planning urgent.

For more climate champion stories, visit Watan News in English.