Philippines

CBI Member Network

The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF)

PDRF website
0

Emergencies responded

0M+

People reached

US$0M+

Mobilized

Data reported by PDRF from January to March 2025

A global model for private sector resilience

RISK PROFILE

An archipelago of over 7,000 islands located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is highly susceptible to natural hazards, including tropical cyclones, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions earning it first place in the 2025 World Risk Index. For the Filipino community, the frequency of these disasters means that preparing for disruptions is part of daily life for every household. Culturally speaking, the population is keenly aware of the different risks that they face, having experienced significant disasters firsthand. They know that working together is the only way to build resilience.

The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) is the coordinator of private sector efforts in disaster risk reduction and management in the Philippines. PDRF was established in 2009 after Typhoon Ketsana and it complements and coordinates its efforts with the government and the UN system. It has over 60 members who are organized in clusters and provides support according to their core competencies. PDRF aims to build disaster-resilient communities and businesses through private sector engagement. PDRF promotes learning and development in disaster management – more specifically, business continuity management, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation for PDRF’s network of corporations, micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), communities and various partner organizations. PDRF also develops and implements programs in community resilience, recovery and rehabilitation, and research and innovation. During disaster response, the PDRF Emergency Operations Centre coordinates the efforts of member companies and ensures that the needs of vulnerable people are addressed.

PDRF, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2021, continues activities responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath by mobilizing its member companies to support the national vaccination campaign, reaching out to vulnerable communities including people living with disabilities, providing meals to medical workers in COVID-19 referral hospitals, and organizing workshops on mental health.

PDRF also provided assistance to communities evacuated and affected by the eruption of Taal volcano in July 2021, distributing hygiene kits and children toys. The network engaged on issues related to the climate emergency, co-organizing the Philippine Water Challenge and collecting donations to plant trees during World Humanitarian Day.

The experience and knowledge of PDRF has also been essential in supporting programmes on business continuity. PDRF, with the support of UNDP, OCHA Philippines and CBI, has:

  • launched a digital platform called the Synergizing Recovery Initiatives, Knowledge, and Adaptation Practices MSME Resilience Hub to share tools and resources on response and recovery for MSMEs;

  • created “PUHON,” termed after the Cebuano term for “hopefully, in due time”, a strategic foresight planning toolkit for MSMEs;

  • developed a training programme on business continuity for hospitals and other Government agencies; and

  • conducted first responders trainings and the installation of rainwater catchments for clean water.

PDRF was actively involved in the response to Typhoon Rai (known locally as Typhoon Odette), which struck the Philippines on 16 December 2021, claiming 407 lives and displacing more than 500,000 people. Thanks to its private sector-led Emergency Operations Centre, PDRF was ready to intervene within hours. It organized operational briefings for its member companies and partners in coordination with the government and UN representatives. The network provided 196,000 ready-to-eat meals, transported over 200 tons of goods and assisted about 70,000 families with food rations. 

Lastly, PDRF has collaborated with CBI to share their experience through three knowledge products:

Cover photo: PDRF

Building disaster resilience in the Philippines

Building disaster resilience in the Philippines

Discover PDRF, a business federation and a founding member of CBI, which has been working to build disaster resilience in the Philippines for the past 10 years.

Network at a glance

Host organization

Non-profit organization (registered with the Philippine SEC in 2010)

Headquarters

Pasig City, (formerly Makati City)

Number of members

60+ member companies

Scale / Business reach

National

Contact person

Veronica Gabaldon

Contact email

pdrfcentral@pdrf.org.ph

Areas of focus

Earthquake, Flood, Landslide, Tropical cyclone, Volcanic activity

Most recent emergencies

Latest from the Philippines