By Clarizzah Joi D.L. Tualla, DILG NCR
Like other regions, the DILG National Capital Region is no stranger to the effects of climate change. In fact, as of today, the Region is included in the places with the ‘dangerous’ level of heat index. This is in addition to the potential occurrence of the ‘Big One’, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake projected to happen when the West Valley Fault shifts.
The presence of these risks and hazards prompted the Region to develop a more responsive capacity development intervention, which was created through the combined expertise of its stakeholders.
It was in 2023 when the DILG-NCR officially launched the Project called "Upscaling Plans for Resilient Urban Governance” or UPSURGE. In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UPSURGE aims not only to develop and implement risk-informed development plans across all 17 NCR LGUs but also to establish multi-stakeholder partnerships. This project has helped the office highlight the importance of local planning as one of the cornerstones of DRRM and CCA.
Further recognizing that DRRM-CCA responses must be holistic, the DILG-NCR formally launched the Ugnayan Series: Linking Partners and Communities toward Urban Governance, or Ugnayan, to foster meaningful exchanges and enhance the participation of CSOs, barangays, and the public on disaster risk reduction and management as anchored on the values and principles of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Since its inception, Ugnayan has served more than 2,000 individuals in the Region.
However, it is not enough. While its activities are centered on the project, the DILG-NCR wanted a resilience hub where its responses and initiatives in building resilient governance are harmonized. Recognizing that at the heart of the Region’s efforts is collaboration, the DILG-NCR, together with the DBM-NCR, PIA-NCR, UNDP, ARISE Philippines, Build Change Philippines, Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative, and the National Resilience Council, founded the Metro Manila Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Resilience Network, solidifying the collective resolve of building a more resilient governance of all NCR LGUs through multi-stakeholder solutions.
In photo: DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III, leads the signing of the pledge of commitment for the Metro Manila Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Resilience Network
The Resilience Network serves as a regional multi-stakeholder and transdisciplinary partnership and collaboration network on all disaster preparedness and climate change resilience initiatives in the Region, taking into account the expertise of multiple stakeholders to respond to and mitigate compound and cascading climate and disaster risks. It ultimately aims to support LGUs to become inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by 2030 and beyond.
In photo: The founding members of the Resilience Network representing groups and organizations from both the public and private sectors, including DILG-NCR, DBM-NCR, MMDA, OCD, and Arise Philippines.
These initiatives ensure that capacity development isn’t just delivered; it is targeted, responsive, empowering, and collaborative. The Resilience Network aims to establish a community of practice among NGAs, RLAs, the academe, civil society, private sector, and local formations of LGU functionaries existing in the Region to foster co-creation and exchange of knowledge, information, local best practices, and innovations on DRR-CCA. Anchored on the principles of Open Government Partnership, it is designed to be more dynamic and inclusive, encompassing a broader range of stakeholders, including private sector entities, non-government organizations, and even international partners.
Since its establishment, the Resilience Network has helped more than 117 barangays transected and within 1km of the WVF zone, and 3,000 individuals, and continues to do so with the help of the organizations that are part of it. As it stands, the Resilience Network is continuously onboarding more partners to ensure a wider and more responsive scope in all sectors of resilience.
The Region believes that resilient governance isn’t built in isolation. It is a shared responsibility. We continuously try to prove that when governments, citizens, and partners work together, we do more than respond to disasters. We transform communities. We lead by example. And we build a future that is stronger, safer, and more prepared not only for our children but for the generation yet unborn.
