Local and International Agencies call for disaster and climate resilience
The Dialogue was undertaken to foster critical discussions and build consensus on national strategies to strengthen disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the Philippines. It was organized by the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the Disaster Risk Reduction Enhancement at the Local Level – Technical Assistance Project (DRREALL-TA). It is supported by both Expertise France and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and is also funded by the European Union (EU).
“Climate change is a top important issue. The EU aims at carbon-neutral economy by 2050 and a 55% emissions cut by 2030. In this context, the EU is committed to assisting partner countries to mitigate emissions and adapt to the negative effects of climate change. This is also an important element in the EU-Philippines cooperation”, said EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro during the National Policy Dialogue on Climate and Disaster Resilience.
Opening the event, DILG Undersecretary Marlo L. Iringan underscored the importance of collective action and local empowerment in building resilience. “Dialogues are acts of cooperation, of commitment, and of hope. But we must also remember that dialogue must always lead to collective action,” he said. “May this inspire courage to move from conversation to collective action. By putting our hands, heads, and hearts together, we secure the future of generations to come.”
“Resilience cannot rest on one office or one administration. It must rest on one nation. Let this Dialogue be more than discussion. Let it mark a renewal of cooperation — guided by science, informed by data, and united in discipline. Because resilience is not reaction, it is reform. It is not rhetoric, it is responsibility," emphasized Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert E.A. Borje, urging all sectors to transform dialogue into decisive, data-driven actions.
The collective contributions of Ambassador of France to the Philippines H.E Marie Fontanel, Vice-Director Bénédicte Borel, Peace, Security and Stability Department, Expertise France and experts from AFD, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, UN-Habitat, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) helped shape the Dialogue throughout the opening remarks, two plenaries, and four thematic sessions.
The Dialogue also featured a Resilience Marketplace, an interactive exhibition showcasing tools, platforms, and innovative solutions for climate and disaster resilience. The Marketplace aimed to promote a science-based approach to disaster risk management and foster collaboration among government agencies, researchers, and development partners. Exhibitors include GeoRiskPH, PAGASA’s Multi-Hazard Impact-based Forecasting System, the Philippine Catastrophe Insurance Facility, EU Copernicus, and Start Network Philippines.
The event culminated with the signing of the Resilience Manifesto, a joint call to action that notably commits partners to integrating nature-based and ecosystem-based solutions to scale up sustainable and inclusive climate and disaster responses.
AFD Country Director Bénédicte Gazon reaffirmed the agency’s long-term partnership with the Philippines in advancing disaster and climate resilience. “This dialogue marks a key step in the implementation of the DRREALL program,” she said. “Beyond its activities and outputs, this event embodies what the program truly aims to achieve, to create spaces for policy dialogue where national and local actors can share perspectives, identify bottlenecks, and co-design solutions for stronger resilience governance.”