The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) and the City Government of Antipolo recently formally sealed their partnership through the Signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the implementation of the BRIDGE Project, a water resilience program, at the Antipolo City Hall. The ceremonial signing marks the beginning of the City’s journey towards becoming a national model for urban sustainability and disaster risk reduction.
In photo, seated left to right are PDRF Executive Director Veronica Gabaldon, Antipolo Councilor Lorenzo Juan Sumulong III, and PDRF President Butch Meily. Standing behind are BRIDGE Project staff and Antipolo LGU representatives. Taken on 26 January 2026.
On behalf of Mayor Jun Ynares, Councilor Lorenzo Juan Sumulong III emphasized Antipolo City’s commitment to pioneering nature-based solutions in urban development. “The partnership is timely, as Antipolo recently introduced the Philippines’ first Blue-Green Infrastructure Ordinance. Positioned as a national model for integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning, the ordinance underscores Antipolo’s leadership in disaster risk reduction and environmental innovation. This milestone further strengthens the relevance and alignment of the BRIDGE Project with the city’s long-term development goals,” said Councilor Sumulong.
PDRF President Butch Meily and Executive Director Veronica Gabaldon attended the signing and delivered messages highlighting the importance of strong public-private collaboration. “The whole goal of the BRIDGE program is to improve the water resilience for communities around the country,” said Meily.
The BRIDGE Project, or Building Resilience Through Inclusive Development and Gender Equality, is a four-year initiative implemented by PDRF with funding support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The project aims to strengthen local resilience to climate and disaster risks through inclusive, gender-responsive, and collaborative approaches, with a particular focus on integrated water resources management. Under the BRIDGE Project, Antipolo City is one of the pilot sites, alongside Baguio City, to enhance the disaster and climate resilience of water-stressed communities through improved water governance, strengthened local government capacity, and increased participation of women and Indigenous Peoples in water management.
Following the MOA signing, PDRF also launched the pilot of the BRIDGE Water Governance Program in Antipolo City. The core course “Fundamentals of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)” ran from 26-30 January 2026. The five-day intensive training brought together 20 key participants from various offices of the Antipolo City Government to promote a coordinated and cross-sectoral approach to water security.
The BRIDGE Project in Antipolo City is being implemented by PDRF through its project team led by Anna Katrina Aspuria, Project Director, and Alex Czar Masiglat, Program Manager, in close coordination with the City Government and key stakeholders.
The MOA signing and the conduct of the IWRM training is an important step in strengthening Antipolo’s institutional capacity, advancing integrated water resources management, and fostering partnerships that support Antipolo City’s vision of a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.
