Cotabato City – The Ministry of Health (MOH), on Wednesday, convened a round table discussion with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to advance the goals of the USAID-funded BARMM Resilience Project. The meeting was led by Deputy Minister Dr. Zul Qarneyn M. Abas and Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Abdulhalik M. Kasim from the MOH, and Erina Yamashita, Officer-in-Charge of the Cotabato Sub-office from the IOM.

A key agenda item was the establishment of a MOH Technical Working Group (TWG) on Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Adaptation (MERLA). This TWG will play a crucial role in strengthening the MOH’s capacity to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and inform evidence-based decision-making. The meeting also aimed to clarify roles, responsibilities, and commitments in the creation of the MERLA TWG which seek to ensure effective collaboration and efficient implementation of the MERLA framework.

The participants also validated the findings of the BARMM Resilience Project baseline study which will serve as a foundation for future interventions and monitoring efforts. The MOH and IOM closely coordinating to further bolster the health outcomes of the region’s most vulnerable population by strengthening health systems, expanding access to quality healthcare, and enhancing preparedness and response to health emergencies.