BY GLORIA LEODIVICA INES ARANETA

Tagbilaran City’s anticipatory action program was the focus during the National Resilience Month Anticipatory Action Learning Event on July 21, 2026.  

The event was held at Bohol Tropics Resort in Tagbilaran City and was organized by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Australian Aid, and Caritas Australia.  

The City Government of Tagbilaran and the Provincial Government of Bohol were also partners in the said forum which carried the theme, “Pagbansaybansay sa mga Sayo nga Paglihok: Alang sa Mas Andam ug Lig-on nga Bohol.”  

It highlighted innovative approaches to anticipatory action and climate resilience.  

Representing Mayor Jane Yap, City Administrator Alvin Acuzar welcomed the participants and reaffirmed the city’s commitment to proactive disaster risk reduction.  

A key part of the program was Tagbilaran City’s presentation on its anticipatory action initiatives.  

The initiatives started in 2023 through a pilot project by Catholic Relief Services in Barangay Manga which is one of the city’s most hazard-prone communities.  

The project introduced science-based forecasting, early warning systems, and pre-disaster interventions.  

These measures are designed to reduce the impact of natural hazards before they occur.  

City officials cited the successful activation of anticipatory measures during Typhoon Kalmaegi (Tino) in November 2025.  

During that time, Barangay Manga carried out forecast-based actions ahead of the storm.  

The program has since expanded to the neighboring coastal barangays of Ubujan and Taloto.  

This expansion has strengthened the city’s community-based disaster preparedness network.  

Another highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement and the turnover of an Automated Weather Station.

The equipment was turned over by the Manila Observatory, Caritas Australia, and Catholic Relief Services.  

It will strengthen localized weather monitoring and improve early warning capabilities in Barangays Manga, Ubujan, and Taloto.  

The learning event ended with technical discussions led by experts from the START Network, DOST-PAGASA, and the Office of Civil Defense-Central Visayas.  

The discussions focused on anticipatory action, forecast-based triggers, financing mechanisms, and strategies to help local governments build more resilient communities.