Phl, Vietnam launch typhoon mitigation

The Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen cooperation on disaster preparedness, emergency response and post-disaster recovery through a joint typhoon mitigation initiative, the Department of National Defense said Friday.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phan Van Giang agreed to pursue the Project Typhoon Mitigation Initiative on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting and ADMM-Plus in the Philippines.

The two officials cited the countries’ shared exposure to increasingly unpredictable disasters, noting that typhoons often pass through the Philippines before reaching Vietnam.

The initiative will bring together the countries’ defense establishments, military institutions and civil defense agencies to develop a joint protocol covering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief coordination, early detection and warning systems, and the prepositioning of critical resources.

Teodoro said the initiative would promote a science-based, proactive approach to disaster response by improving the exchange of operational information to guide preparedness and ensuring that essential supplies are available for timely relief operations.

Giang reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to existing bilateral agreements and multilateral cooperation mechanisms, emphasizing compliance with regulations and respect for each country’s interests as foundations for coordination and interoperability.

The initiative seeks to consolidate existing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms for civil defense and humanitarian assistance in line with ASEAN principles.

Both countries welcomed voluntary participation by other countries to strengthen regional disaster response capabilities.

The two sides aim to finalize and implement the joint protocol during the eighth Philippines-Vietnam Deputy Ministers’ Defense Strategic Dialogue and ninth Defense Cooperation Working Group meeting, scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

The announcement follows the elevation of Philippines-Vietnam relations to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership and the signing of a 2026 memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation.

Teodoro and Giang have directed their respective defense establishments to pursue additional initiatives to translate the strengthened partnership into practical cooperation.