ASEAN ministers sign Manila declaration on disaster management

MANILA, Philippines — Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states have signed the Manila Declaration, affirming their collective commitment to accelerating implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme 2026-2030; strengthening ASEAN accountability, monitoring, and learning for disaster resilience; and shaping the region’s disaster resilience agenda toward 2030 and beyond.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., who also chairs the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, presided over the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience (AMCDR) Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday where ministers from ASEAN member states adopted the Manila Declaration.

The Department of National Defense said the meeting “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.”

“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,” Teodoro said.

With the concurrence of all member states, the DND said it is now slated for notation by state leaders at the 49th ASEAN Summit this November.

ASEAN vision

Teodoro also announced that they will seek the endorsement of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable, and Empowered ASEAN Vision, subject to the consensus of all member states.

This 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,” Teodoro said.

“This is the indispensable pathway to ensuring resilience, security, and prosperity in our region, not only today, but for generations yet to come,” he added.

During his closing remarks at the two-day AMCDR held on Sept. 15 and 16, 2026, Teodoro expressed his hope for continued cooperation, networking, and finding effective and agile solutions beyond the conference.

“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,” he said.

With the theme, “Twenty Years of AADMER: Advancing Global Commitments Toward a Resilient ASEAN Beyond 2030,” the AMCDR is a flagship activity of the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairmanship under the Marcos administration, bringing together ASEAN ministers, disaster management officials, and stakeholders from international organizations and civil society groups.