Coastal cities at risk in the Philippines: Investing in climate and disaster resilience

Coastal cities in the Philippines are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and climate-related disaster events. An overview of the current disaster management plans and programs in the Philippines shows that most lack a science-based or systematic understanding of disaster risk as well as locally driven and systematically implemented institutional preparedness.

The aim of this project is to enhance the capacity of coastal cities in the Philippines to increase the resilience of the most vulnerable populations to climate-related disaster risks. This will be achieved by supporting the preparation of the disaster risk reduction and management plans, called “Resilience 2022”, for metro Manila, Iloilo, and Naga.

The research team will use a multi-stakeholder engagement platform with academic and scientific institutions, the private sector, civil society, and local and national governments. Project outputs include tools that inform risk governance; an increased number of resilience scientists, professionals and leaders in risk and resilience governance; and strengthened public-private partnerships. Scientific papers, science-policy briefs, and engagement with partners will result in knowledge transfer/mobilization among partners. Project outcomes include innovative solutions in climate-related disaster resilience through transdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder support in the preparation of Resilience 2022 plans, by bringing the science of climate-related disaster risk and resilience to inform the core operations of the private sector, government, and civil society organizations. The project will be conducted by Ateneo de Manila University.