Posted by Hazard Assessment Team of UPRI NOAH Center
The University of the Philippines (UP) formalized a strategic partnership with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), a leading social development institution based in Cebu. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) took place at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, on 21 July 2025, with UP President Angelo Jimenez and RAFI President and CEO Amaya Fansler leading the ceremony.
UP Resilience Institute (UPRI), represented by Executive Director Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay, is the university’s implementing body. With support from the Philippine Academic Society for Climate and Disaster Resilience (PASCDR), the partnership brings together the scientific and technical expertise of UPRI and RAFI’s deep community engagement across Visayas and Mindanao. The collaboration aims to co-develop programs that promote the physical, social, and economic well-being of marginalized communities.
“Our collaboration with UPRI opens new opportunities for capacity building, program evaluation, and knowledge exchange—particularly in advancing disaster resilience. It also connects us with UP’s vast network and technical expertise to strengthen our community efforts,” according to RAFI, which aims to build more resilient and disaster-prepared communities primarily in Cebu and other regions in Visayas and Mindanao.
President Jimenez emphasized the value of UPRI and its core component, the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center, in strengthening disaster risk reduction and management efforts in Central Visayas.
Dr. Lagmay closed the program by underscoring the importance of a “whole-of-society approach,” where academia, the private sector, and government agencies collaborate to mitigate disaster risks and build resilience. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and other international bodies, the private sector plays a vital role in DRR by providing financial resources, offering technical expertise, and supporting community-based resilience programs. RAFI exemplifies this role, leveraging its philanthropic legacy and operational capacity to empower vulnerable communities.
