AWARENESS OF THE STUDENTS OF

WESTERN PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY

PUERTO PRINCESA CAMPUS,
EDUCATION STUDENTS
IN CLIMATE CHANGE
CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION
Climate change is one of the serious
problem faced the whole world today . As a
future educators, the researchers conducted the
study about the awareness of the students in
Western Philippines University - Puerto Princesa
Campus, College of Education in Climate Change.
Statement of the problem
This study aims to determine and analyze the
awareness of the students of Western Philippines
University-Puerto Princesa Campus Education
students in climate change.
Specifically the study seeks to answer the following
questions:
1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of?
• Age;
• Educational Attainment;
• Economic Status;
• Leadership position
• Length of Residency
2. What are the thoughts of the respondents about
climate change?
3. What are the feelings of the respondents about
climate change?
4. What are the ways of adaptation of the
respondents to climate change short and longer
term?
5. What are the experiences of the respondents
about climate change in terms of weather
condition?
5. What are the knowledge of the respondents
about the causes of climate change.
Objectives of the study
This study will be conducted with the following
objectives:
1.To determine the profile of the respondents in
terms of:
• Age;
• Educational Attainment;
• Economic Status;
• Leadership position
• Length of Residency
2. To determine the thoughts of the respondents
about climate change.
3. To determine the feelings of the respondents
about climate change.
4. To determine the ways of adaptation of the
respondents to climate change short and longer
term.
5. To determine the experiences of the respondents
about climate change in terms of weather
condition.
6. To determine the knowledge of the respondents
about the causes of climate change.
Significance of the study

This term paper was conducted to know

the awareness of the students of Western
Philippines University Puerto Princesa Campus,
education students in climate change.
Scope and limitation of the study

The study was focus only in the students of

Western Philippines University Puerto Princesa
Campus, College of Education about the
awareness in climate change.
 CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter deals with a study of
researchers similar to the present study. It is
interesting to note the awareness of the
students of Western Philippines University -
Puerto Princesa Campus Education students in
climate change. Some of these studies may be
mentioned.
 Theoretical Framework
In their study in November 2010 entitled
“Addressing climate change through sustainable
development and the promotion of human rights.”,
Margreet Wewerinke and Vicente Paolo Yu III
Climate find out that climate change will not only
have an impact on the right to life; it also impacts a
range of other human rights, including the human
right to an adequate standard of living. This right
comprises several components, including housing,
food, water and clothing. Once again, the impacts
on this right are already visible in developing
countries and are projected to worsen in the future.
 Based on the result of the study conducted by by
Romulo A. Virola, Estrella V. Domingo , Glenita V. Amoranto and
Edward P. Lopez-Dee2 entitled “Gearing a National Statistical
System Towards the Measurement of the Impact of Climate
Change: The Case of the Philippines” they found out that the
alarming threat of the adverse effects of climate change in
people’s lives warrants a comprehensive strategic planning on
the part of policy and decision makers. But planning can be truly
effective only if it is based on high quality statistics.
Unfortunately, environmental statistics and in particular,
statistics on the climate change and its impacts are generally
lacking both in terms of quantity and quality, particularly in
developing countries. Part of the reason is that national
statistical agencies have not been sufficiently involved in the
generation of these statistics, not only because of resource
constraints but also because of lack of subject matter expertise.
 The Pilot Survey and the Baseline survey
promote public awareness about Climate
Change. One villager in Nabeina, N Tarawa
commented “We had heard about climate
change, but from your questions we now realise
how serious it is”
 CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the Locale of the

Study, Research Design, and Respondents of the
Study, Sampling Procedure, Instrumentation,
and Data Collection Procedure.
 Locale of the study
• Western Philippines University-Puerto
Princesa Campus is located at Sta. Monica
Heights, Bgy. Sta. Monica Puerto Princesa City.
It has approximately 4000 students in the
university including Bachelor of Elementary
and Secondary Education with approximately
population of 600 students.
WPU-PPC Location
 Respondents of the study
There are 250 students from Bachelor of
Elementary and Secondary Education from
Western Philippines University, Puerto Princesa
Campus.
 Sampling procedure

• This study is limited to the 250 students from

Bachelor of Elementary and Secondary
Education from Western Philippines
University. (It comprises the total number of
two hundred fifty (250) respondents)
 Questionnaire Design
The key tool of the study is the questionnaire
being prepared by the researcher. In administering
the questionnaire, the researcher assists the
respondent for them to better understand. The
questionnaires were divided into 8 parts: (A) The
respondents profile,(B) Thoughts about climate
change, (C) Feeling of the respondents about
climate change, (D) How people learn about climate
change, (E) Adaptation to climate change short and
long term, (F) Extreme and Unusual weather
events, (G) The Central and Local Government, (H)
Causes of Climate Change.
 Data Collection Procedure
The researcher will prepare and use
structured questionnaires in gathering the data
needed in the study.
 CHAPTER IV
RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS
A PROFILE OF THE RESPONDENTS
Table 1 show that the profile of the respondents
includes, age, gender, etc. it was reflected in the table that out
of two-hundred fifty respondents, majority(53.6%) of the
respondents are ages 15 – 18 ;37.2% are ages 19-22 and 9.2%
are 22-25 years old; their highest completed level of
education is college; all of the respondents are studying in
college but they don’t have any leadership position; and most
of them lived on their place not more than 19 years; one
hundred eighty-nine(75.6%) are lived not more than 19 years;
thirty-eight(15.2%) are between 20 – 40 years lived; and the
twenty-three remain are less than 1 year lived in this place.
 Questions f/(n=250) Percent (%)

1. How old are you?

o 15 – 18 134 53.6%
o 19 – 22 93 37.2%
o 22 – 25 23 9.2%
2. What is your highest completed level of education? (ie passed)
o primary 0 0%
o secondary 0 0%
o college
250 100%
3. What is your main employment? (ie things you get paid for?)
o village work 0 0%
o unemployed 0 0%
o student
250 100%
4. Do you have any leadership position/s?
o school org. 23 9.2%
o church 46 18.4%
o none
181 72.4%
5. How many years have you lived on this place?
o Less than 1yr 23 9.2%
o 1 – 19 years 189 75.6%
o 20 – 40 years
38 15.2%

Table 1. Distribution of the respondents according to their profile.

THOUGHTS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
Since the respondents are all education students
majority of them had already heard about climate change
before we interview them, 89.2% yes while 10.8% no;
they think that the possible effect of climate change is the
temperature become hot; most of them agreed that the
climate change is happening today; and they already
affected by it; they believed that everyone can do
something to adapt to climate change but majority of
them also agreed that it is more important to live than to
worrying about the effect of climate change even though
the quality of life of their children in the future will be
reduce.
6. Before this interview, had you heard about climate change?
o yes 223 89.2%
o no 27 10.8%
o don’t know o
0 0%
7. What have you already heard about the possible future effects of
climate change?
o sea level rise 70 10.43 %
o more storms 54 8.05%
o more disease 96 14.31%
43
o coral bleaching/dying 6.41%
55
o increased erosion 72 8.20%
o more rain 62 10.73%
o trees may die 94 9.24%
o less rain 119 14.01%
o hotter temperatures 6 17.73%
o don’t know 0.89%

Table 2. Thoughts about climate change of the respondents

8 -12. What are your thoughts about the following statements about CC? Please tell me
whether you agree, disagree or unsure.

Percent
8.Climate CHANGE is happening. Agree 212 84.8%
Disagree 24 9.6%
Unsure 14 5.6%
9.Climate change is affecting the people already. Agree 234 93.6%
Disagree 14 3.6%
Unsure 2 0.8%
10.Every individual can do something to adapt to Climate change. Agree 197 78.8%
Disagree 43 17.2%
Unsure 10 4%

11.Living for today is more important than worrying about the effect of CC. Agree 219 87.6%
Disagree 27 10.8%
Unsure 4 1.6%
12.CC will reduce the quality of life of my children in the future. Agree 215 86%
Disagree 29 11.6%
Unsure 6 2.4%
 FEELING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
The feeling of respondents about climate
change most of them choose afraid with the
total percentage of 28.55% followed by angry
with the total percentage of 24.96%;
powerless(23.42%); confused (15.21%); and
disbelief (7.86%).
13. How do you feel about climate change?
o afraid 167 28.55%
o angry 146 24.96%
o disbelief 46 7.86%
o confused 89 15.21%
o powerless e.g I can’t do anything 137 23.42%
o don’t know 0 0
o other ________________ 0 0

Table 3. Feelings of the respondent about climate change.

 HOW PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
The percentage of the respondents that use TV
(Television) at their home/school is 32.52 % ; also 19.72 % of
they heard about Climate Change in the TV; and 23.49% of the
respondents prefer to receive information about Climate
Change & Adaptation Methods of it in TV; Some of the
respondents didn’t attend in consultation, workshop/school
lesson about Climate Change but 68% of them attended in
those activities; Also 85.88% of the respondent that attended
consultation, workshop or school lesson answer that the event
was organized by the schools; 75.29% the respondent learned
that they must plants mangroves/trees/bushes along coast;
After the event the participants/the respondents had
an informal talk w/ their friends/other; And 94% of the
respondents prepare to share the new information they
learned about the adaptation to climate change with others to
adapt together for nothing in return.
14. Do you make use of any of the following media at home/school?
o radio 147 22.44%
o TV 213 32.52%
o DVD 21 3.21%
o newspaper 95
o internet 14.50%
179
o none 0 27.30%
0
15. Through which media have you heard about on CC?
o radio AM 167 15.61%
o DVD’s 26 2.43%
o church
26 2.43%
o radio FM
o internet 68 6.36%
o NGO’s 187 17.48%
o poster 56 5.23%
o TV 24 2.24%
o newspaper 211 19.72%
o people
91 8.5%
o none
214 20%
o other__________
0 0
0 0

Table 4. How people learn about climate change

 ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
SHORT AND LONG TERM
There are 35.95 % of the respondents have
already planted mangroves/trees to adapt
climate Change; also 12.41% of them have
already planned to plants mangroves/trees in
the future i.e next 5 years to adapt Climate
Change; but if necessary, in long term 85.2% of
the respondents are not prepare to move with
their family.
16. By which of the following methods would you like to receive info a bout climate
change and adaptation methods?
o radio AM 154 16.9%
o DVD’s
12 1.32%
o church
o radio FM 47 5.16%
o internet 53 5.82%
o NGO’s 49 5.38%
o poster 44 4.83%
o TV 27 2.96%
o newspaper
214 23.49%
o people
o other__________ 118 12.95%
193 21.19%
0 0

17. Have you recently attended a consultation, workshop or school lessons on CC?(if
No proceed to Q.22)
o Yes 170 68%
o No
80 32%
18. If Yes who organized the event?
o church 24 14.12%
o school 146 85.88%
o don’t know
0
o other_________
0
19. What did YOU learn about ways to adapt to CC?
(Repeat “adaptation” definition)
o must plant mangroves/trees/bushes along coast 128 75.29%
o importance of maintaining sea walls
26 15.29%
o importance of sea wall having slopping side/wide side
o everyone needs to cooperate in adapting to CC 3 1.76%
o Other_________ 13 7.65%
0
20. What did you do as a result of the workshop to adapt to CC?
o held/attended training courses to teach new skills to villagers 15 8.82%
o built new buildings away from shoreline (first berm) 3 1.76%
o gave talks in schools about CC adaptation strategies 49 28.82%
o had informal talks with friends/others 103 60.59%
o other________________ 0
21. If you learn new information/skills about adaptation to CC, would you
be prepared to share with others outside your family?
o for nothing ie to enable everyone to adapt together 160 94.12%
o for money 0 0
o in exchange for goods/services 4 2.35%
o no 1 0.59%
o not sure 5 2.94%
22. What have you done ALREADY to adapt to climate change?
o planted mangroves/trees 243 35.95%
o stopped cutting mangroves 201 29.73%
o built sea walls of cement/sand bags/rocks 87 12.87%
o stopped mining aggregate 32 4.73%
o stopped damaging the reefs when fishing (using crowbar for octopus/eels 87 12.87%
o nothing 26 3.85%
o other _________ 0 0

23. Have you already planned to do any of these things in the FUTURE i.e next 5 years to adapt to climate change?
o plant mangroves/trees
o plant trees and bushes along shoreline 241 12.02%
o stop cutting mangroves 197 9.83%
o look after trees/bushes eg watering during drought 212 10.57%
o build sea walls of coral/driftwood 92 4.59%
o build sea walls of concrete/sand bags 94 4.69%
o maintain existing sea walls 81 4.04%
o stop mining aggregate 68 3.39%
o build new buildings inland from the berm 216 10.77%
o install rain water tank 197 9.83%
o conserve/ration water 216 10.77%
o stop damaging the reefs when fishing (using crowbar for octopus/eels) 208 10.37%
o nothing 169 8.43%
o other_______ 14 0.70%
0 0
24. If necessary, in the long term, would you be prepared to move with your family to?
o a place further away from the beach 32 12.8%
o another country 3 1.2%
o no 213 85.2%
o not sure 2 0.8%

Table 5. Adaptation to climate change short and long term

EXTREME OR UNUSUAL WEATHER EVENTS

Most of the respondents have no recently

experienced in any extremely or unusual weather
events but the 38.8% of them have experienced it;
most of them get a warning through watching TV;
they went to a safe location after the event; after
that event they experienced most of them planted
mangroves along coast so that if ever next time the
effects are lessen; about if there is a lack of
water/drought the majority of the respondents
liked to repaired leaking taps and pipes; and lastly,
most of the respondents have a disaster
management plan to their place.
25. Have you recently experienced any extreme/unusual weather events for example, freak storms, wave washing
over walls and causeways?
o yes 97 38.8%
131 52.4%
o no (Go to Q 31)
22 8.8%
o don’t know/can’t remember (go to Q 31)
26. How did you get a warning (through which media)?
o radio 51 27.57%
o TV 78 42.16%
35 18.92%
o friends
21 11.35%
o observed changes in the sky/sea 0 0
o none 0 0
o other ____________________ 0 0
o N/A
27 . What did YOU do DURING the event?
o stayed put (ie where you are) 67 42.40%
o went to a safe location 91 57.6%
0 0
o other_____________________
0 0
o N/A
28. What did YOU do as a result of the event? (in the long term)
o built a sea wall 41 23.03%
o abandoned house and moved to a safer location 13 7.30%
46 25.84%
o covered wells
78 43.82%
o planted mangroves along coast 0 0
o nothing 0 0
o other ____________________________________________ 0 0
o N/A
29. What do YOU do if there is a lack of water/DROUGHT?
o go to the next nearest potable well 87 32.58%
o dig new wells 9 3.37%
91 34.08%
o repaired leaking taps and pipes
39 14.61%
o buy imported bottled water 41 15.36%
o never experienced a drought
30. Is there a “disaster management plan” in your place/village/island?
o yes 94 96.91%
o no 2 2.06
1 1.03%
o don’t know
Table 6. Extreme or unusual weather events experienced by the respondents
22. What have you done ALREADY to adapt to climate change?
o planted mangroves/trees 243 35.95%
o stopped cutting mangroves 201 29.73%
o built sea walls of cement/sand bags/rocks 87 12.87%
o stopped mining aggregate 32 4.73%
o stopped damaging the reefs when fishing (using crowbar for octopus/eels 87 12.87%
o nothing 26 3.85%
o other _________ 0 0

23. Have you already planned to do any of these things in the FUTURE i.e next 5 years to adapt to climate change?
o plant mangroves/trees
o plant trees and bushes along shoreline 241 12.02%
o stop cutting mangroves 197 9.83%
o look after trees/bushes eg watering during drought 212 10.57%
o build sea walls of coral/driftwood 92 4.59%
o build sea walls of concrete/sand bags 94 4.69%
o maintain existing sea walls 81 4.04%
o stop mining aggregate 68 3.39%
o build new buildings inland from the berm 216 10.77%
o install rain water tank 197 9.83%
o conserve/ration water 216 10.77%
o stop damaging the reefs when fishing (using crowbar for octopus/eels) 208 10.37%
o nothing 169 8.43%
o other_______ 14 0.70%
0 0
24. If necessary, in the long term, would you be prepared to move with your family to?
o a place further away from the beach 32 12.8%
o another country 3 1.2%
o no 213 85.2%
o not sure 2 0.8%

Table 5. Adaptation to climate change short and long term

THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT & LOCAL
GOVERNMENT

The respondents are agree that the

government are doing things to helped them to
adapt the climate change to their locally and
also they are already consulted to enable them
to identify their areas of concern about climate
change.
 Total

31. The central/local government Agree 181 72.4%

ARE doing things to help us to
ADAPT the CC locally.
Disagree 59 23.6%

Don’t 10 4%
know

32 . The central/local government has ALREADY Agree 179 71.6%

CONSULTED us to enable us to identify our areas of
concern about CC.
Disagree 46 18.4%

Don’t 25 10%
know

Table 7. The central government & local government

 CAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

The respondents think that the most

common causes of climate change is the burning
plastics or degradable materials.
33. What do you think are the causes of climate change?
o burning fossil fuels eg coal, oil, gas, petrol
o burning plastic or degradable materials 237 34.15%
241 34.73%
o deforestation ie cutting down large forests and burning
216 31.12%
off 0 0
o don’t know

Table 8. Cause of climate change

 CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
Summary
RECOMMENDATION
This study aimed to determine the awareness of the
students of Western Philippines University-Puerto Princesa
Campus, Education students in climate change. The study was
conducted at Western Philippines University – Puerto Princesa
Campus, College of Education. This study involved the random
selected students of college of education as respondents. A
survey questionnaire was employed in gathering data used and
the statistical tools such as frequency counts, percentages and
for the computation; analysis and interpretation of the data. As
results, majority (53.6%) of the respondents are ages 15 to 18;
their highest completed level of education is college; all of the
respondents are studying in college but they don’t have any
leadership position; and most of them are already resident of
that place.
 The results revealed that majority (89.2%) of
them had already heard about climate change
before we interview them; they think that the
possible effect of climate change is the temperature
become hot; most of them agreed that the climate
change is happening today; and they already
affected by it; they believed that everyone can do
something to adapt to climate change but majority
of them also agreed that it is more important to live
than to worrying about the effect of climate change
even though the quality of life of their children in
the future will be reduce.
 Meanwhile, it was revealed that the feeling of
respondents about climate change is that most of
them choose afraid with the total percentage of
28.55% followed by angry, powerless, confused &
disbelief.
Moreover, the study revealed that majority of
the respondents use TV (Television) at their
home/school to hear/having information about
Climate Change. There are 35.95 % of the
respondents have already planted mangroves/trees
to adapt climate Change; also 12.41% of them have
already planned to plants mangroves/trees in the
future i.e next 5 years to adapt Climate Change; but
if necessary, in long term 85.2% of the respondents
are not prepare to move with their family.
 Furthermore, most of the respondents
have no recently experienced in any extremely or
unusual weather events they get a warning
through watching TV; and the respondents are
agree that the government are doing things to
helped them to adapt the climate change to
their locally and also they are already consulted
to enable them to identify their areas of concern
about climate change.
Conclusion
Anchored on the findings, the following
conclusions were deduced.
1. The respondents are young educators that
study their tertiary level at COLLEGE OF
EDUCATION in Western Philippines University
Puerto Princesa Campus, Puerto Princesa City.
Most of them are not active in the different
extracurricular like leadership. The length of
their residency are the same with their age.
2. Most of the respondents have heard about
the climate change and they are aware that the
climate change is already happened, they are
affected and they believed that everyone can do
anything to adapt the climate change but they
practically believed that living today is more
important than worrying about the effect of
climate change even though they knew that the
life of their children in the future can be reduce
because of climate change.
3. The respondents felt afraid about the effects
of climate change at the same time they are
angry.
4. The respondents wanted to plant
mangroves/trees to adapt climate change and
also for the preparation for the next five (5)
years but if necessary, in the long term they
don’t have any plan to move in other places.
5. Most of the respondents have no recently
experienced in any extremely or unusual weather
events but the 38.8% of them have experienced it;
most of them get a warning through watching TV;
they went to a safe location after the event; after
that event they experienced most of them planted
mangroves along coast so that if ever next time the
effects are lessen; about if there is a lack of
water/drought the majority of the respondents liked
to repaired leaking taps and pipes; and lastly, most
of the respondents have a disaster management
plan to their place.
6. The respondents think that the most common
causes of climate change is the burning plastics
or degradable materials.
Recommendation
Based on the findings and the conclusions,
the researchers now recommend the following:
1. Conducting seminars about climate change so
that all the students of college of education in
Western Philippines University Puerto Princesa
Campus will be aware about climate change.
2. Having drills/workshop about what does the
students going to do if they experience different
kinds of disasters cause by climate change.
Reference:
Websites:
• http://newclimateeconomy.net/content/aims-
and-rationale
• https://www.weadapt.org/knowledge-
base/transforming-governance/background-and-
rationale
Research
• Dr Christine Hogan, Adviser on Participation and
Awareness Processes (KAP II Component 1.2.4),
25 February 2008