Lorenzo Moron - Inside Out Collaboration: The Online IBF Training Course in PAGASA

The occurrence of severe and high-impact weather events is becoming more frequent. Despite the advent of technologies and the rapid advances of weather forecasting resulting in increasing forecast accuracy, mitigation of disaster impacts from a global perspective remains at an insignificant level. This lead to a question, 'Why do good forecast result in a poor response?"

The NMHS primarily provides warnings based on meteorological threshold suggesting recommended action at each warning level. But the forecast does not usually consider the vulnerability and exposure of the population to the hazard. Therefore, it is no longer enough to provide a good weather forecast or warnings. Information about what to do with the forecast becomes a public demand to ensure their safety and property protection.

A new paradigm takes place. Multi-Hazard Impact Based Forecast (IBF) focusing now on 'what the weather will do' rather than 'what the weather will be'. This is introduced in various NMHSs especially in WMO RA-V South-West Pacific. Sharing of expertise of the leading centers operating IBF will greatly improve the understanding of IBF operation and the strategy to established strong linkages, not only with various stakeholders in a country but also promote collaboration among NMHSs.

On 26 - 28 April 2021, PAGASA conducted the Online IBF Training Course for participants from the operational center and regional office as well as the stakeholders in disaster management. A group of experts from BMKG Indonesia was invited to be resource persons, take the advantage of the nowadays online world. This made the aforementioned training an inside-out collaboration, many parties involved, many stakeholders reached in the loop, cooperation between two NMHSs and two RTCs strengthen. Such a blessing in disguise of the pandemic. 

We learned how to promote collaboration among institutions, between RTCs as well as PAGASA as the NMHS to its stakeholders, and how to makes online training possible to be conducted in a short time of preparation. 

This video describes the IBF's implementation in PAGASA, working with other institutions, in the frame of bilateral and multilateral partnership.