Community Considerations
Sustainable Travel Behavior of the Local Residents of Lipa City during COVID-19 Pandemic
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Andrenelyn Varona
Travel, though restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic, is inevitable for communities to survive. The risk of getting infected, fear of social gatherings, strict protocols on physical distancing and inaccessibility of basic commodities, very peculiar set of environments and structures is shaping the travel behavior of every individual. Using the quantitative research method, the study assesses the motility and sustainable travel behavior of the residents of Lipa City in reference to the concept of motility - mobility potential - as an analytical framework investigating the associations between three motility dimensions of attitudes, skills and access and individuals’ mode choice in terms of using car, walking, and public transport for their daily trips. The study reveals that during the pandemic, all motility dimensions are predictor variables of sustainable travel behavior with cognitive appreciation as the strongest predictor while skills and competencies as the least. The public vehicle travelers have the most sustainable travel behavior while the majority of the respondents who are preferred private vehicle users exemplify the least sustainable behavior. These findings suggest the travelers act responsibly while traveling depending on their interpretation and understanding of their situation, needs and motives parallel to their skills appropriate in using each travel mode. Providing more useful information about the use of public transport, integration of a holistic approach involving the design of mobility policies and development of quality networks for alternative modes of transport will encourage the public to choose environmentally friendly travel with a goal of creating sustainable behavioral changes among the residents.
Navigating Displacement: Coping and Recovery in the Aftermath of Riverbank Slumps in the Peruvian Amazon
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Sreya Juras
This work explores how two communities, Nuevo Ucayali and Brisas de Abancay, in the Ucayali region of the Peruvian Amazon, have adapted to displacement following destructive riverbank slumps, locally known as barrancos. Drawing on interviews and participant observation, the paper examines individual, household, and community coping strategies employed in response to the devastation. Personal spirituality and agricultural work provided emotional stability at the individual level, while family ties and placemaking were critical for household recovery. In Nuevo Ucayali, community coping centered around religious gatherings, while in Brisas de Abancay, sports, and communal games played a key role in fostering social cohesion. The chapter highlights the interconnectedness of these coping strategies and their role in cultivating recovery amid environmental instability. It offers a nuanced understanding of how communities rebuild emotionally and physically after natural disasters, emphasizing the importance of social networks, cultural practices, and livelihood restoration in the recovery process.
Sustainable Heritage and Cultural Resilience in Vilcabamba: Navigating Tradition, Migration, and Modernization
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Elena Bastidas
This study examines Vilcabamba, Ecuador, where cultural sustainability and socioecological resilience are uniquely shaped by peasant traditions and an aging local population. Known for its longevity, residents attribute their health to local, organic food, mineral-rich water, and communal ties. Research, using participatory methods, including Sondeo methodology and social polygraphy workshops, explores how Vilcabamba’s practices sustain both the community’s health and environment. Weekly agroecological markets and traditional farming practices embody this lifestyle, underscoring the deep cultural knowledge and natural harmony in the town’s way of life. However, Vilcabamba faces change due to North-South migration, with wealthier foreign nationals reshaping the town’s economy, real estate market, and social dynamics. Transnational Gentrification Theory offers insight into the effects of rising living costs and reduced local autonomy, as well as the new job opportunities created by these migrants. Locals experience both benefits and challenges as community cohesion is tested. Assimilation varies among expatriates: some engage deeply with local culture, while others remain insular, favoring their own customs. This diversity introduces a spectrum of cultural tensions and interactions, with differing perspectives on agricultural practices, language, and social values. Vilcabamba’s response to these shifts illustrates the need for inclusive planning to sustain cultural heritage amid economic and social pressures. The study highlights the role of sustainable heritage development as essential for preserving the town’s traditions while adapting to contemporary changes.
