Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday presided over the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience Ministerial Meeting, where ministers from ASEAN adopted the Manila Declaration.

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.

The Manila Declaration affirms collective commitment to accelerating implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response Work Programme 2026-2030; strengthening ASEAN accountability, monitoring, and learning for disaster resilience; and shaping ASEAN’s disaster resilience agenda toward 2030 and beyond.

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

Teodoro also announced that they will seek the endorsement of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable, and Empowered (RISE) 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. This is the indispensable pathway to ensuring resilience, security, and prosperity in our region, not only today, but for generations yet to come,” Teodoro said.

The AMCDR is a flagship activity of the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairship under the Marcos Jr. administration, bringing together ASEAN ministers, disaster management officials, and stakeholders from international organizations and civil society groups. Department of National Defense