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DAVAO CITY — The Bangsamoro Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) Chairperson and Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua has mobilized regional DRRM council members to synchronize their El Niño Action Plan during the three-day BARMM Climate Forum that concluded on Thursday, June 25, held at Homecrest Hotel, this city.
The BDRRMC Chairperson Macacua graced the regional event as exhorted the council members.
“This forum represents that unified action. To successfully safeguard our communities, we are mobilizing two of our most critical institutional pillars: the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR). Our strategy against this severe 2026 El Niño relies on the synchronized strength of science and agriculture.”
The Climate Forum event co-organized by the World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations, MOST, MAFAR, MSSD and READi has also been a venue for the enhancing of the BARMM Action Plan on El Niño and introduction to Agrometeorological Advisory.
UNWFP brought to BARMM the DOST PAGASA Weather Specialist Joey Figuracion together with the MPRSD Assistant Weather Services Chief Eng’r Lolita Vinalay and PAGASA Cotabato Synoptic Station Chief Gleziel Pedrcio. The PAGASA Team was fully immersed with the discussions and planning sessions of the line agencies and MAFAR offices.
BARMM Chief Minister Macacua said that “through the close collaboration of MOST, MAFAR, the members of the DRRM Council and our steadfast partners like the UNWFP, we are closing the capacity gaps that have previously left our local leaders and farmers vulnerable. We are transforming science from abstract numbers into actionable, localized advisories that protect a farmer’s yield and a fisher’s livelihood.”
The Agromet Advisory, a weather data being issued by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to help farmers to make critical decisions has been introduced to BARMM by the UNWFP and DOST’s PAGASA to help facilitate harmonization of the prevention and mitigation mechanisms across the country. By merging PAGASA’s weather science with the DA’s agricultural expertise, the agromet advisory was created.
This joint initiative is now being cascaded and replicated in the BARMM region to further intensify disaster risk reduction and management measures in the region especially in the forecasted strong El Niño.
“Yun naman ang pinapakiusap ni Bangsamoro READi and ni UNWFP, na mapag-usapan ni MAFAR at ni MOST kung ano ang magandang approach, that is why we are conducting this activity… how do we inform the farmers na ganito (strong El Niño) ang ma-eexperience natin,” said BDRRMC Secretariat and Bangsamoro READi Head of Office Director Muhammad Farzieh Abutazil as he emphasized to the agencies the importance of inter-agency cooperation.
Abutazil also underscored the importance of Anticipatory Actions in order to reduce disaster impact, “hindi na natin inaantay yung nandyan na saka pa tayo kikilos.”
Meanwhile, MAFAR Director General Ismail Guiamel expressed gratitude and commitment to the partnership with MOST during the forum. He led the discussion in identifying gaps and challenges in establishing innovation and appropriate implementation of planned activities, saying that “ito ang realidad na nakikita natin, now we are looking at the continuation of the program of UNWFP, this is not just food security but there are also other components… Kami po ay nagpapasalamat, sana hindi ito ang una at huli at mas marami pang engagements na makasama namin kayo.”
Offices present in the Climate Forum included BARMM Ministries such as MOST, MILG, MSSD, BPDA, MAFAR, MOH, OCD BAR, BIO, MOLE, MTIT; Security sectors: 6th Infantry Division AFP, PRO BAR, Bureau of Fire BARMM, PDRRM Offices of Maguindanao del Norte and del Sur, Basilan, Tawi-tawi, C/MDRRM offices of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, the MAFAR Provincial Offices of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Tawi-tawi.
The Climate Forum was able to consolidate productive and collective inputs from various sectors which will be endorsed to the regional Action Planning Team on El Niño for finalization, while the MAFAR Offices will bring back to their localities their Agromet Advisories. (/)