BARMM Children Face Rising Climate Risks
In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), approximately 1.7 million children are increasingly vulnerable to climate change-related dangers, experts revealed. This alarming reality underscores the urgent need to protect families and children in the region from escalating environmental threats.
Recognizing this, the Bangsamoro Disaster Response Plan (BDRP) was recently launched. This comprehensive multi-hazard response framework, developed with support from international partners, prioritizes the safety and well-being of BARMM children and their families.
First Multi-Hazard Plan for BARMM
The BDRP stands as BARMM’s inaugural multi-hazard disaster response strategy. It addresses frequent calamities in the region, including natural disasters and armed conflicts. Local leaders emphasized that the plan aims to strengthen the community’s resilience while minimizing disruptions to BARMM’s ongoing peace and development efforts.
Crafted under the leadership of the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), the plan draws on studies that highlight the increasing risks faced by children in the area. The BDRP focuses on enhancing emergency preparedness and response capacities to safeguard lives and protect vital services such as education and healthcare.
Frequent Hazards Threaten Lives and Livelihoods
Flooding and rain-induced landslides are identified as the most common and destructive hazards in BARMM. For instance, Tropical Storm Paeng in October 2022 resulted in 63 fatalities, displaced thousands, and caused over P3.5 billion in economic damage.
More recently, flash floods in July 2024 impacted over 187,000 families, primarily in Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte. These recurring emergencies severely threaten children’s safety and disrupt essential community services, officials reported.
Building Resilience Amid Challenges
BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua described the BDRP as “the embodiment of our shared commitment to safeguarding life and property, upholding dignity, and strengthening our resilience in the face of disasters and adversity.”
The plan was developed through a collaborative process involving regional government agencies, local governments, civil society organizations, and humanitarian partners. This inclusive approach ensures that diverse perspectives shape the region’s disaster preparedness and response.
Support from International Partners
International contributors have played a key role in the BDRP’s formulation. Koica Country Director Jung Youngsun expressed pride in supporting BARMM through UNICEF, emphasizing that the plan goes beyond emergency response—it aims to save lives, protect children, and empower communities to withstand future disasters.
Meanwhile, UNICEF’s acting representative to the Philippines, Behzad Noubary, highlighted that the BDRP not only mitigates emergency impacts on children and families but also encourages their active participation in disaster response efforts.
Preparedness as a Community Commitment
MSSD Minister Raissa Jajurie stressed that disasters caused by natural hazards like floods, landslides, storm surges, droughts, and earthquakes, as well as human-induced crises, are a persistent reality in BARMM. She affirmed, “We must be ready to face them.”
The BDRP, she added, symbolizes “a commitment to our community’s safety” and fortifies the region’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to diverse emergencies.
For more news and updates on climate risks and disaster response in BARMM, visit Filipinokami.com.
