Indigenous Survival at Risk | Climate Change Hits Palawan Tribe

The Tao’t Bato tribe of Palawan, known as the “People of the Rock,” are facing a worsening food crisis as climate change disrupts their traditional way of life. Unseasonal and relentless rains have destroyed crops, submerged farmlands, and stripped the forests of fruits that once sustained their diet. Cassava and rice harvests have failed, durian trees are barren, and families are left fishing and hunting just to survive. For generations, the Tao’t Bato have adapted to the rhythms of nature, planting in the dry months and retreating to caves during the wet season. But climate change is breaking this balance, pushing indigenous survival to the edge. This is not just a local crisis — it is a warning of how vulnerable indigenous communities are to the global climate emergency.