The Philippines is among the world’s most disaster-prone countries, facing recurrent tropical cyclones, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other climate-related hazards. Eastern Visayas is particularly vulnerable due to its frequent exposure to typhoons, floods, and storm surges, which continue to affect infrastructure, livelihoods, and local economies. The region´s vulnerability to extreme weather events has remained evident since Typhoon Haiyan devastated large portions of Eastern Visayas in 2013, and was again underscored in 2025 when Typhoons Tino and Uwan caused widespread flooding, housing damage, and service disruptions.

To address these challenges, the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), in collaboration with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Region VIII – Eastern Visayas and with the support of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), is implementing the project “Strengthening Climate Resilience in Eastern Visayas, Philippines through the Application of CLIMADA in Regional and Land Use Planning”. The project aims to quantify current and future climate risks, evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adaptation measures, and strengthen the integration of climate risk information into regional and land use planning.

The project applies the Economics of Climate Adaptation (ECA) Framework using the open-source CLIMADA climate risk modeling platform. This methodology combines probabilistic climate risk assessment with cost-benefit analysis to evaluate adaptation options under present and future climate conditions. The assessment will be aligned with existing regional planning frameworks and tools, ensuring that the results can directly support planning, budgeting, and investment decisions. A user-friendly dashboard will further improve access to climate risk information for decision-makers.

The ECA Framework provides an evidence-based approach to comparing structural, non-structural, and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) measures in terms of their costs and expected risk-reduction benefits. By integrating economic analysis with climate risk modeling, the framework enables decision-makers to identify adaptation strategies that deliver the highest benefits while making efficient use of available resources. This supports more transparent, informed, and financially sustainable adaptation planning.

A central component of the project is capacity development. Training will equip government agencies and regional stakeholders with practical skills in the application of CLIMADA and Climate Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (CDRFI). The project will also identify opportunities to integrate climate risk information into regional planning processes, strengthening institutional capacity to continue evidence-based climate risk assessment and adaptation planning beyond the project’s duration. By combining robust climate risk analysis, economic assessment, and institutional capacity development, the project will support more resilient regional planning in Eastern Visayas and strengthen the long-term integration of climate information into development and adaptation decision-making.