The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Asian Development Bank will convene a high-level regional conference aimed at strengthening inclusive, adaptive and resilient social protection systems across Southeast Asia.
The ASEAN High-Level Conference on Social Protection will be held on July 21 and 22 at the ADB headquarters in Mandaluyong City.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who chairs the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, will join leaders of the Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development, focal points from regional health and labor bodies, and other delegates.
Aligned with the ASCC’s 2026 priorities under “RISE ASEAN,” the conference will bring together development partners, academic institutions, civil society organizations and technical experts to examine emerging challenges and opportunities in regional social protection.
“When we talk about social protection, we are not just talking about a certain period of time or when someone is experiencing vulnerability. It is addressing multiple and interconnected risks throughout one’s life cycle,” DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said Tuesday, July 14.
“To better assist the poor, vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalized sector, we must ensure that our systems can anticipate, respond, and adapt to emerging challenges such as disasters, climate change, economic disruptions, and demographic shifts,” she added.
Dumlao said the conference would allow ASEAN member states to exchange experiences, share innovations and identify priority actions amid evolving social, economic, health and climate-related risks.
The two-day meeting will focus on five areas: inclusive and resilient social protection systems; digital transformation and integration; human capital and community-based delivery; sustainable financing and resource efficiency; and evidence-based governance and regional cooperation.
“We also want to focus and discuss how we, in the ASEAN region, can improve the delivery of social protection through integrated beneficiary databases, digital payment systems, interoperable social registries, and community-based approaches to ensure that services reach those most in need,” Dumlao said.
“With these new and available technologies and innovations, we believe that we can do better and we can do more,” she added.
The Philippines, through the DSWD, will present its initiatives to professionalize the social service workforce through competency development, training systems and institutional support.
The department will also highlight its community-driven development programs under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services.
ASEAN member states are expected to formulate recommendations for a post-2025 regional social protection agenda and strengthen cooperation among governments and development partners.
The conference is also expected to support the ASEAN Declaration on Advancing Social Protection Towards a People-Centered Community, which seeks to reaffirm the region’s commitment to improving social protection systems through regional cooperation.
Organizers said the meeting would identify reforms needed to keep social protection programs responsive, inclusive and accessible, particularly to vulnerable communities across ASEAN.