ASEAN ministers adopt key pact
With the concurrence of all member states, it is now slated for notation by state leaders at the 49th ASEAN Summit this November.
With the concurrence of all member states, it is now slated for notation by state leaders at the 49th ASEAN Summit this November.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states adopted the Manila Declaration on 16 September, which seeks to strengthen coordination in the bloc on climate disaster response.
The Manila Declaration affirms collective commitment to accelerating implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response Work Program 2026 to 2030; strengthening ASEAN accountability, monitoring, and learning for disaster resilience; and shaping ASEAN’s disaster resilience agenda toward 2030 and beyond.
Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., also chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, presided over the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience Ministerial Meeting.
It took place against a backdrop of complex and dynamic risk landscapes and presented an opportunity to build consensus on exchanging knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned, which are vital to ASEAN efforts to enhance the safety and well-being of its communities and build the resilience and prosperity of the region.
Practices, lessons shared
“It likewise reaffirms the role of ASEAN as a global leader and convener in disaster resilience, as well as the commitment to sharing lessons, innovations, and good practices with the international community,” Teodoro said.
With the concurrence of all member states, it is now slated for notation by state leaders at the 49th ASEAN Summit this November.
Teodoro added that ASEAN Leaders will be sought to endorse the Statement on the Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable and Empowered ASEAN Vision, subject to the consensus of all member states.
The statement declares the region’s shared vision of a resilient, innovative, sustainable and empowered ASEAN, which is defined as “one that can better anticipate, withstand, adapt, recover, and thrive in the face of complex and systemic risks while leaving no one behind.”
“We are hopeful that these critical directions will reduce risks, accelerate resilience, and transform the lives of our people. For our part, the Philippines remains firmly committed to building and enhancing ASEAN solidarity. This is the indispensable pathway to ensuring resilience, security, and prosperity in our region, not only today, but for generations yet to come,” Teodoro said.
