Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Environmental Attitudes of Local Government Scholars in Tiaong, Quezon, Philippines

Justine A. Marasigan, Ma. Larissa Lelu P. Gata — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 06:38:54 +0000

This study aimed to analyze the environmental attitudes of local government scholars in Tiaong, Quezon, Philippines. The quantitative research design was used to determine the level of environmental attitudes using the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale. It was also utilized to examine the relationship between environmental attitudes and independent variables which include demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and economic status, academic background such as student classification, scholastic standing, scholarship privileges, and membership in student and/or youth organizations, and experience with ecological extremes. A total of 301 respondents participated in an online survey administered through Google Forms®. The respondents generally demonstrated a strong disposition towards positive environmental attitudes, as indicated by an aggregate NEP score of 49.54. Notably, the study revealed significant associations between environmental attitudes and distinct factors, including economic status (p = 0.014), student classification (p = 0.006), scholastic standing (p = 0.000), and membership in student and/or youth organizations (p = 0.005). Consequently, the null hypothesis postulating an absence of significant relationships between environmental attitudes and the independent variables was refuted. As a pioneer study on environmental attitudes in Tiaong, Quezon, Philippines, this research provided partial baseline data on the environmental attitudes of its local government scholars. It is imperative that a more comprehensive research study on environmental attitudes be conducted to include non-scholars and tertiary students from private schools across.

Participatory video as a capacity-building tool on disaster risk reduction management: The case of a Philippine rurban youth group in Bay, Laguna

Trina Leah T. Mendoza, Benjamina Paula G. Flor — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:07:01 +0000

This study aimed to explore a youth-led participatory video (PV) process as a strategy for building the capacity of youth in disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) in a Philippine urban community. The study’s main research problem is: What constitutes a youth-led PV process? Specifically, it aimed to 1) describe a youth-led PV production process, 2) identify emergent characteristics of a youth-led PV process, and 3) examine features that explain how a PV process capacitates youth in DRRM. A series of DRRM and PV training workshops were conducted from January to March 2019 with a selected group of youth in Barangay San Antonio, Bay, Laguna. Qualitative interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation were also conducted with key stakeholders in the community. The emergent features of the PV process include creating communication strategies for youth participants, dovetailing project activities, sharing control between youth and adults, drawing out ideas and giving feedback, choosing the appropriate software for video editing, and including fun in the process. The PV process enhanced the knowledge and skills of youth in both DRRM and PV production, established a new core group in DRRM, and boosted their confidence in carrying out their assigned tasks efficiently. Knowledge of a youth-led PV process and its emergent features can guide PV practitioners and researchers toward conducting more engaging PV projects with youth participants.

Mitigating the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Human Development: The Case of Tortugas, Balanga City, Bataan

Patrick C. De Leon — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 03:08:17 +0000

This study aimed to analyze how Barangay Tortugas implemented its programs and projects to mitigate the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of the three elements of human development (health, education, and access to resources). Data were gathered through key informant interviews using a structured questionnaire. Purposive sampling was used in selecting respondents comprised of eight barangay officials, the school principal, 13 teachers, and 60 beneficiaries of the Barangay Kitchen Station and the vaccination program. Results of the study showed that among the various programs and projects being implemented in the barangay, only three (3) were successful. First, the vaccination program was able to keep the number of COVID-19 cases to a minimum when an incentive in the form of rice distribution was given to the recipients. Second, its education project, the Gulong ng Pag-asa project, which was jointly implemented by the school and barangay officials, prevented children from dropping out of school and ensured their continuous acquisition of knowledge amidst the pandemic. Lastly, the Barangay Kitchen Station, an innovative project that prepared and distributed hot meals, was able to supplement the food or nutritional needs of its constituents during the pandemic. To ensure continuity and sustainability in future undertakings given a similar situation, the following recommendations are given: (a) give priority to programs and projects that address the three elements of human development; (b) nurture the spirit of cooperation and volunteerism; (c) use a more precise way of describing or measuring the mitigating effects of barangay programs and projects on human development; and (d) adopt a comparative perspective and experience in future research studies.