PDRF, ADB forge ASEAN disaster resilience partnership

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation and the Asian Development Bank have formalized a strategic partnership to strengthen disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, and institutional resilience in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia.

The organizations signed a memorandum of understanding at the PDRF Emergency Operations Center in Clark, Pampanga.

The agreement establishes cooperation between one of the Philippines’ major private-sector disaster resilience coordinators and the Manila-based multilateral development bank.

The partnership will focus on information exchange, hazard monitoring, capacity development, and coordination between ADB and PDRF.

The initiatives are intended to improve institutional readiness ahead of the typhoon season.

The collaboration will also strengthen the organizations’ long-term response capabilities for future emergencies.

PDRF President Butch Meily represented the foundation during the signing ceremony.

PDRF Chief Resilience Officer Guillermo Luz also attended the event.

PDRF Executive Director Veronica Gabaldon and Operations Center Director Arnel Capili were also part of the foundation’s delegation.

“The partnership between a premier multilateral development institution such as ADB and a leading private sector disaster management organization such as PDRF is important for the Philippines and the world. We are going to achieve great things together and blaze a new trial for others to follow,” Meily said.

ADB was represented by HK Yu, vice president for administration and corporate management.

Lakshmi Menon, director general of ADB’s Corporate Services Department, also represented the bank.

Other ADB officials present were Pamela Chiang, senior adviser to the vice president for administration and corporate management, and Mark Gibb, director of the Organizational Resilience and Security Division.

Yu recognized PDRF’s work in helping communities improve their resilience and preparedness for natural hazards.

She also thanked the foundation for working with ADB to strengthen the bank’s organizational resilience.

“We commend PDRF’s work in helping communities become more resilient and better prepared for natural disasters. Our partnership is an important step in strengthening ADB’s business continuity and organizational resilience. It also reflects ADB’s commitment to working closely with the private sector to advance preparedness, coordination, and long-term resilience amid growing risks,” Yu said.

The partnership seeks to build stronger institutional and operational links supporting disaster resilience and climate adaptation.

It also aims to expand meaningful private-sector involvement in disaster preparedness and response.

PDRF serves as a bridge among businesses, communities, government agencies, local governments, humanitarian organizations, and international institutions across the four pillars of disaster risk reduction and management: prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and recovery.

Its Clark facility is described by the foundation as the world’s first private sector-led national emergency operations center.

The center monitors incidents and hazards and coordinates the needs and response initiatives of PDRF member companies.

Clark was selected for the center because of its relatively low-risk location and access to transport infrastructure, including Clark International Airport, the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway, and the Subic Bay seaport.

ADB, meanwhile, has identified climate and disaster resilience and low-carbon development as priorities as countries across Asia and the Pacific face increasing climate-related threats.

PDRF and ADB expect the agreement to contribute to wider resilience efforts across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The organizations plan to leverage their networks and technical expertise to improve preparedness, coordination, climate adaptation, and long-term disaster resilience across the region.