Zonta Club of Central Tuguegarao turns over 45 tents in Earth Day initiative

In celebration of Earth Day, the Zonta Club of Central Tuguegarao, Philippines, strengthened its climate action initiative through the turnover of 45 industrial-grade tents to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Tuguegarao City.

The tents were formally turned over to CDRRMO Head Dr. Roderick Ramirez by Club President Josefina T. Sedano, together with club Treasurer Rebecca R. Garcia, Auditor Mary Sulyn A. Sagorsor and Environment Committee Chair Cheyenne Tang.

The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing response to the environmental challenges faced by Tuguegarao City, where recurring flooding caused by the swelling of the Cagayan River regularly displaces families and strains evacuation centers. As climate-related disasters become more severe, the need for organized and humane disaster response efforts continues to grow.

The portable and durable tents support the city’s disaster preparedness efforts while helping address concerns surrounding privacy and safety in evacuation settings. Overcrowded evacuation centers can place women and children at increased risk of gender-based violence. By providing enclosed spaces for families, the club aims to help create safer and more dignified conditions during displacement.

The project builds on an initiative first launched in 2020 under the leadership of then-President and current Area 4 Director Racquel Reyes-Aglaua, when more than 100 tents were procured through the support of members and community partners. Under Sedano’s leadership, the club continues to maintain, mobilize and expand these resources in partnership with local authorities.

Sedano said the Earth Day activity reflects the club’s commitment to turning environmental advocacy into concrete community action. Through its partnership with the CDRRMO, the club helps ensure the resources remain ready for deployment during emergencies.

As the world marked Earth Day, the Zonta Club of Central Tuguegarao reaffirmed its commitment to advancing climate justice at the local level by protecting not only the environment, but also the dignity, safety and well-being of vulnerable communities during times of crisis.