The Governance for Climate and Disaster Resilience (Gov-CDR) completed its first leg of the Bridging Leadership Program on Climate and Disaster Resilience on Nov 4-7, 2025, at NHotel, Cagayan de Oro City, with representatives from Bukidnon and Davao de Oro Provinces.

Participants dove into workshops on Understanding Technical and Adaptive Challenges, Introduction to Risk and Resilience, Systems Thinking, and Strategic Planning, where they presented their provinces’ outputs that aim to create a Comprehensive Roadmap for Disaster Resilience, integrating GEDSI.

Incorporating the BL framework, Mr. Juan “Bong” Villamor, an L&G Fellow, served as the program’s main resource person, along with Engr. Dexter S. Lo, an S&T Fellow who brings his experience as an expert on Resilience Infrastructure.

Talking about Risk and Resilience, Engr. Dexter Lo shared:

“Sa trabaho sa resilience, kinahanglan nato dawaton nga dili gyud ka mahimong popular sa mga desisyon. Pero ang makaluwas kanimo ug ang labing importante nga butang, mao kini: sa sunod nga mga bagyo, wala na unyay mamatay.”

(In resilience work, we need to accept that you will really not be popular with the decisions you make. But the thing that saves you and the most important thing is this: in the next typhoons, there will be no more deaths.)

Mr. Juan “Bong” Villamor, Lead Expert of Gov-CDR’s BL Program on Climate Resilience, calls for a shift in mindset when incorporating resilience into Disaster Management.

According to Mr. Villamor: “Resiliency is often romanticized, but we must realize that it is a system, a way of life, and a change of mindset. Resilience is about bouncing forward and thriving, not just bouncing back and surviving. Governance should play the key, driving role in moving us forward.”

The Governance for Climate Disaster Resilience (Gov-CDR) project is a six-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Alinea International across six provinces and six ecosystem clusters. Gov-CDR strengthens national agencies to enhance and harmonize policies, resources, and tools; supports local governments to improve the planning, financing, and implementation of climate resilience and disaster risk reduction (DRR) management programs and services; and ensures women and vulnerable groups are fully engaged and the climate actions are inclusive and responsive to their needs.

The BL Program on Climate and Disaster Resilience in CdeO is the first out of four Gov-CDR legs.

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