PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to deepen its solidarity in confronting the impact of climate change.
Marcos made the call on Tuesday during the Asean Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience (AMCDR) in Manila, attended by ministers and heads of disaster management agencies from across the region.
To run from Sept. 15-16, AMCDR is a flagship event of the Philippines’ 2026 Asean chairmanship aimed at confronting natural disasters, which are some of the region’s most persistent and costly challenges.
Southeast Asia, with a population of more than 670 million, sits within the Asia-Pacific, the most disaster-prone region in the world.
“We are reminded that disasters do not respect borders. In a region as interconnected as ours, our response cannot also stop at our borders. This year marks 20 years of the Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response, or Admer,” Marcos said in a message to the conference’s participants read by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.
“Let us deepen the solidarity that has carried Admer forward for the last 20 years. Together, let us be prepared for the challenges we face today, but also capable of meeting these,” Marcos added.
He said the AMCDR recognizes cooperation among Asean member states over the past decades in reducing imminent risks, strengthening preparedness, and responding to emergencies in the face of disasters.
“It also offers an opportunity to look ahead. We must bring our regional commitments closer to the people we serve. This requires more effective institutional arrangements, better civil defense and public protection systems, and reliable mechanisms for coordination and mutual assistance,” the president said.
“May this conference further strengthen our commitment to investing in disaster preparedness, supporting our institutions, and empowering our communities,” he added.
The 11 Asean member states face multiple hazards, including typhoons, floods, earthquakes, droughts, and extreme weather intensified by climate change.
These hazards increasingly interact with rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and other pressures, creating systemic, cascading, and compounding risks.
The regional grouping is composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
“May this conference further strengthen our commitment to investing in disaster preparedness, supporting our institutions, and empowering our communities,” Marcos said.
