Climate Change Adaptation Strategies of Families along the Coastal Areas of Northern La Union

Abstract

This study is generally descriptive and quantitative in nature. The required data were gathered by means of a pre-tested, researcher-made questionnaire administered to ten families selected randomly in each of the selected coastal barangays of Northern La Union. There were 500 participants (250 husbands and 250 wives) in the study. Families in the coastal areas are composed mostly of middle-aged parents, with the wives being slightly younger than the husband, having a maximum of three children. Mostly are high school graduates and lower, however a higher percentage of the wives have a college degree or higher. 52.4% of the respondents have stayed in the community for more than ten years. Generally, they depend on fishing and farming as their source of income, though majority of the college graduates are employed in government and private agencies. Some climate change adaptation strategies are highly gendered, meaning, during disasters, practices that require strength and agility are practiced by the husband, while domestic strategies are done by wife. Awareness of adaptation strategies does not necessarily lead to practice, because there might be hindrances that might affect the practice of these strategies.