Koronadal City, South Cotabato | December 2, 2025 — The recent learning visit of Philippine governors to Japan has yielded promising insights, with Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. announcing plans to adopt several of Japan’s disaster-management best practices in South Cotabato.
The study tour, which focused on disaster preparedness, advanced technologies, and public–private collaboration, is expected to guide major improvements in the province’s disaster-risk reduction strategies.
One of the standout features observed was Japan’s advanced disaster‐prediction simulator.
“The simulator is capable of predicting the potential severity of natural calamities such as typhoons, floods, and earthquakes. It allows authorities to visualize possible scenarios and plan timely interventions,” the governor said.
The governor observed that one of the biggest benefits of the simulator is its ability to forecast the strength and potential impact of typhoons or earthquakes.
“This gives the government the opportunity to prepare necessary measures beforehand and to alert the community early,” Tamayo emphasized.
Inspired by this, Gov. Tamayo expressed his desire to enhance the provincial simulator currently being used in South Cotabato.
As “father of the province,” he stressed the importance of upgrading local tools to ensure preparedness and minimize the effects of any disaster that may strike.
“I believes that an improved simulator could significantly strengthen the province’s capacity to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies,” he said.
A key takeaway from the learning visit, Tamayo said, was Japan’s strong partnership model between the government, private companies, and other stakeholders.
“In Japan, the private sector actively funds research, technology development, and various innovation-driven projects that help grow the national and local economies,” he stressed.
According to Gov. Tamayo, this collaborative approach is something he intends to replicate in South Cotabato.
“One of my plans is to strengthen the partnership between the provincial government and the private sector,” he said.
He said that their involvement in funding research and development can help accelerate progress and create more opportunities for the people of South Cotabato.
The governor emphasized that adopting Japan’s strategies will not only bolster disaster preparedness but also support economic advancement.
By upgrading technologies, improving forecasting tools, and fostering cooperation with private industries, South Cotabato aims to build a safer, more resilient, and more innovative province.
As the provincial government begins planning the integration of these insights, residents can expect a more proactive and technologically equipped South Cotabato one that stands ready to face the challenges of climate change and natural disasters with confidence and modern preparedness.
Governor Tamayo shared that on the first day of the visit, the delegation was formally welcomed by Japan’s ambassador and introduced to key officials overseeing the country’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) programs.
The group was presented with Japan’s well-established systems for disaster handling particularly flood control and early-warning mechanisms issues that remain highly relevant in the Philippines due to frequent heavy rains and typhoons.
The delegation also visited Japan’s Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) research center, recognized as one of the country’s leading institutions for innovation and technological development.
Gov. Tamayo noted that AIST serves a similar role to the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST), but with a broader integration of industry support and state of the art research equipment.
