DAVAO CITY — To fortify local healthcare systems against the region’s unique climate and conflict vulnerabilities, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, Inc. (CBCS) successfully convened the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) Training for Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Emergencies – Batch, held at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City. The intensive multi-day program brought together 34 frontline health providers, social workers, and emergency responders from the Special Geographic Areas (SGA) and Maguindanao del Sur of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Funded by the Government of Japan under the BABAE (Babaeng Bangsamoro, Arkitekto ng at Ehemplo para sa Pagbabago) Project.
The training aims to strengthen local healthcare and social service systems’ ability to address urgent vulnerabilities, deliver life-saving support, and develop emergency plans that meet local needs while promoting gender equity and ensuring sustainability through local leadership.
BARMM is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the Philippines, frequently facing the compounded effects of the “climate-conflict nexus,” including annual flooding, typhoons, armed conflict, and clan feuds (Rido). Displacement crises disproportionately increase the risks of maternal complications, unintended pregnancies, and gender-based violence among women, adolescent girls, and marginalized groups. This underscores the importance of MISP.
To address these vulnerabilities, the comprehensive curriculum focused on integrating the six core MISP objectives into local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H) systems. These objectives prioritize strengthening coordination across all levels through a Reproductive Health Coordination Team (RHCT); preventing sexual violence through survivor-centered clinical care; and reducing HIV and STI transmission through infection prevention and control measures and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The framework also focuses on preventing excess maternal and newborn mortality by ensuring access to 24/7 emergency obstetric care; guaranteeing voluntary access to modern contraceptives, including long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs); and planning a seamless transition to comprehensive primary healthcare services, including safe abortion care to the full extent permitted by law.
The program combined expert lectures with interactive group activities, such as mapping adolescent vulnerabilities using the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) and analyzing the root causes and manifestations of gender-based violence through the “GBV Tree” framework. Participants engaged in practical simulation drills, including facility sanitation assessments, family planning counseling, and emergency delivery workflows, to connect theory with real-world crisis response.
Throughout the sessions, key leaders emphasized the importance of institutional accountability, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and inter-agency coordination. These leaders included UNFPA Philippines Country Representative Ms. Neus Bernabeu and UNFPA Cotabato Sub-Office Head Ms. Romina Sta. Clara (who participated via online and video presentations), SRH Programme Specialist Ms. Jennifer Iden, SRH Programme Analyst Mr. Revie Tindugan, FPOP representatives Dr. Melissa Miranda-Poot (Consultant), Mr. Christopher Peñales (Chapter Program Manager), and officials from the BARMM Ministry of Health (MOH).
As Batch 3 concluded with the presentation of certificates and a renewed commitment to community service, organizers emphasized that the localized rollout will continue across the remaining clusters through early 2027. By equipping frontline health workers and social development personnel with life-saving tools and strategies, the initiative reinforces a clear message throughout the Bangsamoro region: “Sa Bangsamoro—Bawat Buhay Mahalaga!”
Writer: Monawara M. Kumayog, Project Officer
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