Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ, REP. BRIAN DANIEL POE 
LLAMANZARES, REP. RYAN S. RECTO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines, situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, 
faces one of the most complex and overlapping hazard profiles in the world. On 
average, the country experiences more than twenty typhoons annually, five of 
which are destructive, in addition to frequent earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, 
flooding, droughts, and slow-onset climate change effects such as sea level rise 
and biodiversity loss. According to the World Risk Index 2023, the Philippines 
ranks as the most at-risk country globally due to the convergence of exposure, 
vulnerability, and insufficient adaptive capacities. 1 
Despite the enactment of Republic Act No. 10121 in 2010, which created the 
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and 
advanced the disaster risk reduction paradigm, major institutional gaps persist. 
Fragmented mandates, weak vertical coordination, limited scientific integration, 
and persistent underperformance by many local government units (LGUs) 
continue to undermine national resilience efforts.2 
The University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (“UP RI”) was created to 
advance evidence-based strategies for disaster risk reduction and climate 
adaptation. However, as a regular unit under the UP System, it lacks direct fiscal 
support from the national budget and plantilla staffing. This bill seeks to elevate 
UP RI into a National Institute, similar to the National Institute of Geological 
Sciences created by Executive Order No. 889 (s. 1983). As a National Institute, it 
will receive direct appropriations under the General Appropriations Act, 
establish permanent research positions, and scale its national mandate 
2 Asian Development Bank (ADB). (2021). Philippines: Assessment of Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management Institutional Capacity. ADB Technical Assistance Report. 
1 Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft & Ruhr University Bochum – Institute for International Law of Peace and 
Armed Conflict (IFHV). (2023). World Risk Report 2023. 
July 29, 2025
6:55 pm
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Establishing the University of the Philippines National Climateesilience Institute 
(“UP NCRI)”) addresses institutional gaps by creating a publicly funded, permanent 
scientific hub to support national and local risk planning. 
UP NCRI will be able to function at par with national institutes of strategic 
importance. Studies have shown that institutionalized, government- supported 
research centers significantly improve disaster policy outcomes and long-term 
climate adaptation planning.3 
Towards this end, the State shall institutionalize strong coordination 
mechanisms, enforceable compliance standards, and sustainable funding 
streams to ensure that disaster risk governance is robust and adaptive to future 
challenges. 
In view of the escalating climate and disaster risks confronting the country, the 
transformation of UP RI into the University of the Philippines National Climate 
Resilience Institute is both timely and necessary. 
Accordingly, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
HON. RYAN S. RECTO 
3 Altan, O. et al. (March 12, 2015). Disaster Risks Research and assessment to promote risk 
reduction and management, Archīum Ateneo. https://archium.ateneo.edu/sa-faculty- pubs/51/ 
(Date last accessed: July 22, 2025). 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ, REP. BRIAN DANIEL POE 
LLAMANZARES, REP. RYAN S. RECTO 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 
NATIONAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE INSTITUTE, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “University of 
the Philippines National Climate Resilience Institute Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to: 
(a) Uphold the right of all persons to life, safety, and human dignity by
ensuring the protection of lives, livelihoods, infrastructure,
cultural heritage, and ecosystems before, during, and after
disasters;
(b) Recognize climate resilience as an integral component of national
development, environmental sustainability, and human security,
and mainstream it into all levels of governance and sectors of
society;
(c) Promote a proactive, anticipatory, and risk-informed approach to
disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), grounded in
scientific evidence, multi-hazard assessments, and inclusive
stakeholder engagement;
(d) Ensure the establishment of a strong institutional foundation
through the creation of a permanent national institute with the
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requisite authority, capacity, and mandate to oversee, and 
coordinate resilience programs and policies; 
 
(e)​Institutionalize integrated national and local systems for early 
warning, 
emergency 
operations, 
recovery 
planning, 
data 
management, and public communication, including the use of 
digital 
governance, 
predictive 
analytics, 
and 
innovative 
technologies; 
 
(f)​ Facilitate sustained investment in resilience-building measures, 
including but not limited to public budgeting, private sector 
participation, risk financing instruments, and climate-related 
investment mechanisms; 
 
(g)​Encourage 
innovation, 
localization, 
and 
community 
empowerment through research and development, resilience 
education, participatory governance, and indigenous and local 
knowledge systems; and 
(h)​Monitor and evaluate disaster risk governance outcomes through 
evidence-based performance metrics, transparency mechanisms, 
and a robust system of policy feedback, public accountability, and 
continuous improvement. 
SEC. 3. Establishment of the University of the Philippines National 
Climate Resilience Institute. – The University of the Philippines Research 
Institute (“UP RI”) is hereby converted into a national institute to be known as 
the UP National Climate Resilience Institute (“UP NCRI”). 
 
SEC. 4. Mandate of the UP NCRI. – The UP NCRI shall continue the 
mandate of the UP RI as a proactive hub of benchmark innovative information 
vital to the nation’s efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation. It shall 
empower local communities through multidisciplinary actions toward 
resilience. 
 
Among others, it shall: 
 
i.​ Undertake policy research, action research, and interdisciplinary or 
transdisciplinary research or creative work; 
 
ii.​ Disseminate research findings, creative works, and innovations; 
 
iii.​ Establish non-degree educational programs and support degree 
programs; 


iv.​ Establish and institutionalize a national system for resilience- oriented 
research, 
foresight, 
and 
knowledge 
integration 
to 
advance 
science-based, anticipatory, and adaptive resilience governance; 
 
v.​ Facilitate collaborative projects with universities, local government 
units (“LGU”), scientific institutions, civil society organizations, and 
private sector partners, and shall support the translation of research 
into actionable policies and local solutions; 
 
vi.​ Develop and maintain a centralized and interoperable Resilience 
Knowledge Platform to serve as a public repository of resilience data, 
research findings, learning modules, analytics tools, and best practices; 
 
vii.​ ensure that resilience-related research outputs, innovations, and 
knowledge products are converted into practical guidance materials, 
toolkits, planning aids, and operational templates for use by LGUs, 
local communities, and institutions; and 
 
viii.​ Improve the capability of relevant national agencies and offices as an 
agent of change for climate resilience in the Philippines and the Pacific 
Rim region. 
SEC. 6. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s available 
appropriations of UP RI whose functions are herein absorbed, transferred, or 
realigned to the UP NCRI. 
 
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the University of the Philippines, in coordination 
with the Department of Budget and Management, and other relevant agencies, 
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
 
The Implementing Rules and Regulations shall be developed through a 
consultative 
process 
involving 
local 
government 
units, 
civil 
society 
organizations, the private sector, academic institutions, and other stakeholders, 
as may be applicable. 


SEC. 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected shall continue 
to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved. 
 
 
 
HON. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
 
 
 
 
 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HON. RYAN S. RECTO