Cooperation on humanitarian assistance and disaster response is one of the most visible expressions of solidarity among ASEAN member states, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday as he expressed sympathies to fellow member states that have been affected by natural calamities.
“I would like to express likewise our sincere sympathies to our fellow member states who have been affected recently by natural calamities which have grown more frequent, severe, complex, and unpredictable in recent years,” Teodoro said in his opening remarks for the 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in Lapu-Lapu City.
“For our part, we remain deeply grateful and committed to preserving the solidarity which you have extended to the Republic of the Philippines and for the assistance offered sometimes even before we could ask,” he said, as he expressed appreciation for the participation of other member states in the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience convened in Manila last month.
Stressing cooperation on humanitarian assistance and disaster response as expression of solidarity, he said it is comforting to know that member states can rely on their ASEAN brothers and sisters for assistance in times of need.
The defense chief also raised the need for stronger cooperation among ASEAN members as Southeast Asia braces for a super El Niño phenomenon, which could affect food, water, electricity, and connectivity in the region.
The defence ministers’ loop gathering, he said, also takes place at a significant moment for ASEAN, as it marks this year the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
At the same time, the ASEAN is also marking this year the 20th anniversary of the ADMM, which has provided an important platform for constructive dialogue and practical cooperation over the past two decades, he added.
The Philippines, through the Department of National Defense (DND), hosts the 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) on October 28-29, 2026, in Lapu-Lapu City.
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