A top Philippine fire officer, recognized for her leadership in disaster resilience, highlighted the critical role of women in building safer communities during the National Women’s Month Celebration kickoff.

Senior Fire Officer 3 Daisy Leal-Cabauatan, the 2024 Philippine Resilience Awards Champion for Women, shared her experiences as Provincial Chief and Operations Program Director of the Nueva Vizcaya Bureau of Fire Protection at the event organized by the Climate Change Commission (CCC).

Cabauatan stressed that women are often at the forefront of disaster response, leveraging local knowledge and community networks to ensure safety during emergencies. She stressed the importance of equal participation and leadership for effective climate change adaptation.

“When Juana is always prepared, the whole community is safer,” Cabauatan said, calling for increased mentorship, networking, and leadership opportunities for women in disaster management.

The event, led by the Philippine Commission on Women and SM Cares at the SM Mall of Asia, featured service booths, livelihood support, and lectures aimed at promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Philippine Commission on Women chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla, in her “State of the Filipino Women” report, underscored the necessity of gender equality in resilience efforts.

“Climate change disasters do not sit down and negotiate; they do not choose who you are. They can strike whenever they want,” Valdeavilla said. “We cannot win against them, so our fight is about resilience. Let us teach our women and our communities how to strengthen resilience.”

The theme for this year’s National Women’s Month, “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas,” translates to “Women in All Sectors, the Future Rises in the New Philippines,” reflecting the vision of progress through women’s leadership.

Climate Change Commission vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje praised women’s active leadership in building climate resilience.

“Women have always played a key role in shaping the resilience of our communities. Their insights and actions in disaster response and climate adaptation are indispensable in building a better, more prepared nation,” Borje said.

Meantime, CCC commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera added that women are not only first responders in crises but also lead climate resilience initiatives.