Given the tardy progress in mitigating climate change, adaptation measures are crucial in dealing with the current and future impacts of climate change. Adaptation measures need to be formulated and implemented based on vulnerabilities of different localities. This paper looks at the vulnerabilities of the urban poor in Southeast Asian cities by using the cases of Jakarta and Manila, given that they are already susceptible to regular weather related disasters. While the relation between climate change and extreme weather events may be contested, cities continue to struggle to respond effectively to weather related disasters. This paper argues that various adaptation measures should be a part of holistic urban planning that involves collaborative partnership between local, national and international state and non-state actors.