Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is pushing ASEAN to move faster on disaster resilience, according to the Philippine News Agency. His call came as the regional bloc's ministers adopted the Manila Declaration, a measure aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness across member states.
The Philippine News Agency reports that the declaration was adopted during the ASEAN ministerial meeting. Alongside the declaration, participants pushed for a more proactive ASEAN response to disasters and for better warning systems, according to Inquirer.net.
President Ferdinand Marcos also addressed the gathering, urging ASEAN members to deepen cooperation on disasters, Philstar.com reported. The Manila Declaration was formally adopted by ASEAN ministers, according to the Daily Tribune.
The push reflects the region's exposure to natural hazards and the need for coordinated action among member states. The reporting does not specify the meeting's exact dates or location, the full text of the declaration, or the specific commitments member states agreed to.
What to watch next: whether ASEAN members translate the Manila Declaration into concrete measures, including the improved warning systems and faster response mechanisms that were raised at the meeting.