Surigao del Norte Strengthens Preparedness for Reproductive Health in Emergencies
News
Surigao City — Surigao del Norte leaders reinforced their commitment to protect communities during disasters by aligning strategies for Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) in emergencies.
The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and with support from Australian Aid, led a two-day Project Alignment and Technical Roadmapping Workshop on September 11–12, 2025 at the Provincial Conference Hall in Surigao City. The event brought together provincial officials, health leaders, and development partners to craft a unified roadmap for implementing the Minimum Initial Service Package for SRH (MISP-SRH).
Provincial leaders signaled their commitment by joining the sessions. Atty. Rise Faith Recabo, Provincial Administrator, represented Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers. Dr. Maria Isabel Makinano, Provincial Health Officer, and Fe Saumat, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, also joined, along with other department heads and staff. Their presence showed the province’s determination to strengthen SRH services in its disaster response plans.
During the alignment session, Emmanuelle Pabalate, OIC-Project Manager for MISP-SRH at ZFF, urged stakeholders to set measurable milestones and align local efforts with national frameworks. She urged participants to:
- Set measurable milestones, strengthen governance, and mobilize resources; and
- Build lasting partnerships with civil society organizations to sustain reforms and ensure that provincial strategies remain aligned with national frameworks.
In the technical session, ZFF MISP-SRH staff, Elaine Joyce Diaz and Loriegrace Mindoro, guided participants through a structured process of reviewing achievements, identifying gaps, and mapping out strategies with timelines. Diaz underscored that:
- Evidence-based planning strengthens accountability;
- Proper monitoring helps track progress and sustain services; and
- Aligning actions with the DRRM framework ensures readiness during emergencies.
The workshop ended with an actionable roadmap and renewed partnerships among provincial stakeholders. While challenges remain, Surigao del Norte signaled its readiness to institutionalize reforms, mobilize resources, and strengthen governance systems.
These efforts aim to build a resilient and inclusive SRH system that protects families, especially women and girls, during disasters.