Philippines joins CDRI to boost climate-resilient infrastructure

MANILA — The Climate Change Commission welcomed the Philippines’ entry into the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, or CDRI, saying the move could strengthen the country’s use of climate and disaster risk information in infrastructure planning.

The Philippines was formally welcomed as CDRI’s 71st member during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s meeting with coalition officials in New Delhi, India, on Sept. 12.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has been designated to represent the Philippines in the coalition.

“This is a timely decision for Philippine adaptation. It can further strengthen our nation’s ability to anticipate risks and apply what we know before infrastructure is located, designed, financed, built and maintained,” said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje.

Borje said the decision supports the administration’s push for predictive governance, which uses climate projections, hazard information, and risk assessments to inform current policies and investments.

“Prediction has value when it changes a decision: the site selected, the design standard applied, the project prioritized, the maintenance scheduled and the essential service protected,” he added.

Borje noted that roads, bridges, ports, power and water systems, schools, hospitals, and communications facilities are interconnected.

A failure in one critical system can disrupt essential services, livelihoods, and economic activity, highlighting the importance of climate-resilient design and preventive adaptation.

The CCC said CDRI membership could complement implementation of the National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050 and the National Climate Risk Management Framework by expanding access to international expertise, technical cooperation, risk-assessment tools, and potential partnerships for resilient infrastructure investment.

The National Adaptation Plan is the Philippines’ long-term framework for reducing climate vulnerability, strengthening adaptive capacity, and integrating climate considerations into policies, programs, investments, and development planning.

The commission said the benefits of CDRI membership would depend on how international knowledge and cooperation are translated into national standards, budgets, investment decisions, and infrastructure projects.

“With DPWH as the country’s designated representative, the next step is to connect this cooperation with the work of other national agencies, local governments, infrastructure operators, financing institutions, universities and communities,” Borje said.

“Our objective must be to build right at first sight and ensure that public investments remain safe, functional and useful under the risks we already face and those we can reasonably foresee.”

CDRI, launched by India in 2019, is a voluntary and nonbinding global partnership that promotes infrastructure resilience against disasters and climate-related risks.

The coalition brings together governments, international organizations, financial institutions, the private sector, and academic institutions to share expertise, strengthen technical capacity, and promote investment in resilient infrastructure.

The Philippines became the second Southeast Asian country to join CDRI after Vietnam.

The CCC is the Philippine government’s lead policy-making body on climate change.

Under Republic Act No. 9729, or the Climate Change Act of 2009, as amended, the commission must formulate climate policies, coordinate and monitor government climate programs, and support integrating climate change considerations into national, sectoral, and local development planning.