Strengthening Disaster Preparedness Through Multi-Sector Partnerships: HTC Joins Collaborative Climate Resilience Planning in General Santos City

Strengthening Disaster Preparedness Through Multi-Sector Partnerships: HTC Joins Collaborative Climate Resilience Planning in General Santos City

Holy Trinity College of General Santos City (HTC), as a partner of A-PAD Philippines (Asian Preparedness and Response Network), continues to support collaborative initiatives that strengthen local disaster preparedness, climate resilience, and emergency response systems. Through its participation in the multi-sector initiative “Strengthening Medical Stakeholders’ Partnerships for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Resilience,” HTC joined government agencies, healthcare institutions, and other stakeholders in advancing a more coordinated disaster response framework for General Santos City.

The initiative brought together at least 20 medical and multi-sector partners for a collaborative mapping exercise and learning session. With strong representation from the healthcare sector, the activity focused on identifying and strengthening the roles of medical stakeholders in the city’s disaster response system, particularly in situations involving climate-related emergencies and other hazards.

The discussions were guided by the Incident Command System (ICS) and Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. These frameworks emphasize coordinated planning, clear responsibilities, and effective communication among stakeholders to improve preparedness, emergency response, and disaster risk management.

During the session, Dr. Rey Ponteras emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships within the medical response system to ensure that institutions and stakeholders are better prepared to respond to emergencies and disasters. The collaborative mapping activity provided an opportunity for participating organizations to share their expertise, identify areas for cooperation, and establish a common direction for improving local disaster response capabilities.

HTC’s participation as an A-PAD Philippines partner reflects the institution’s commitment to supporting regional and local efforts in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience. By engaging with the General Santos City Health Office, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, healthcare institutions, academic organizations, and humanitarian partners, HTC contributes to a wider network working toward safer and more disaster-ready communities.

The activity concluded with a shared commitment among stakeholders to translate the insights and recommendations gathered into concrete actions that strengthen emergency preparedness and response, particularly in the face of climate-related risks.

Through its continuing partnership with A-PAD Philippines and engagement with local stakeholders, Holy Trinity College recognizes that effective disaster preparedness requires collective responsibility, timely coordination, and sustained cooperation between educational institutions, government agencies, and the broader community.