Southeast Asian nations took a decisive leap toward safeguarding millions of lives this week as regional leaders formally adopted the landmark Manila Declaration, establishing a bold, united strategy to combat increasingly complex disaster risks across the region.
Presided over by Philippine Secretary of National Defense and NDRRMC Chairperson Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday, the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience (AMCDR) convened top officials to pool expertise, exchange best practices, and fortify regional defenses against environmental and systemic threats.
At the core of the newly adopted Manila Declaration is a firm commitment to fast-track the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme 2026–2030, while enhancing long-term monitoring, accountability and adaptive strategies well beyond 2030.
“It likewise reaffirms the role of ASEAN as a global leader and convener in disaster resilience, as well as our commitment to sharing lessons, innovations, and good practices with the international community,” Secretary Teodoro said.
With full backing from member nations, the declaration will move to heads of state for official notation at the 49th ASEAN Summit this November.
Ministers also agreed to push for full endorsement of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable, and Empowered (RISE) ASEAN Vision. The ambitious initiative defines a shared future for the bloc, aiming for a region “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,” Secretary Teodoro said.
Wrapping up the two-day summit held September 15–16, Teodoro urged participating nations to maintain momentum and build agile, collaborative solutions across borders.
“I am hopeful that we will continue to work with one another faster, more often, on a more collaborative basis—not only within ASEAN, but with the international community within which we coexist—in the pursuit of a safer, more prosperous, and more resilient future for our people,” Secretary Teodoro said.
Themed “Twenty Years of AADMER: Advancing Global Commitments Toward a Resilient ASEAN Beyond 2030,” the high-level meeting serves as a cornerstone of the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship under the Marcos Jr. administration, bringing together ministers, policy leaders, international partners and civil society delegates.