by: Aira Joy C. Delos Angeles and Dr. Dj Darwin Bandoy
January 14, 2026 – Former Tarlac Governor and current Tarlac City Mayor Susan Areno Yap-Sulit visited the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) for a meeting to discuss potential areas of collaboration on disaster preparedness. The discussion focused on strengthening partnerships between UPRI and the local government of Tarlac, with an emphasis on science-based and anticipatory approaches to disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM). Both parties explored ways to align UPRI’s research initiatives with the specific needs of local governments to support evidence-informed planning and decision-making.
During the meeting, Dr. Dj Darwin Bandoy, Director of the UPRI–Research and Creative Work Division, together with the UPRI team, committed to applying the BAHA Framework (Benchmarks for Anticipatory Health Action) to analyze Tarlac’s available data sets. The framework supports anticipatory and evidence-based decision-making by promoting early action to reduce potential health impacts and disaster effects before hazards escalate. Through this approach, UPRI aims to generate actionable insights that can strengthen local preparedness and response capacities.
On the same day, the UPRI team also presented its work on the establishment of a Barangay Early Warning System (BEWS) to the provincial and city governments of Tarlac. The BEWS initiative was launched last year under PhilPrep, a multi-stakeholder platform composed of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP), the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), and UP RI–NOAH. PhilPrep advances DRRM efforts nationwide through collaboration among government, academia, and the private sector, with a focus on strengthening early warning and response at the barangay level.
The BEWS serves as a scalable “last-mile” disaster preparedness model that can be adapted by local governments. The Province of Tarlac plans to replicate the model through its Resilience Hub, with support from UP RI–NOAH, Tarlac State University, and Tarlac Agricultural University. By engaging local academic institutions, the initiative underscores the importance of partnerships in strengthening community-level preparedness and resilience systems.
The visit highlighted the shared commitment of UPRI and the local government of Tarlac to advancing science-based and community-centered disaster preparedness initiatives. It reinforced the role of research and innovation in supporting effective DRRM. The collaboration aligns with national efforts to strengthen anticipatory action and early warning systems. These initiatives contribute to building safer and more resilient communities. The engagement reflects the public service mandate of the University of the Philippines.