ASEAN Fast-Tracks Implementation of Sendai Framework Ahead of 2030

MANILA, Philippines— ASEAN Member States, alongside regional and international partners, convened during the first session of the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience (AMCDR) to strengthen coherence between global and regional disaster risk reduction commitments. The high-level panel focused on accelerating the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and the AADMER Work Programme 2026–2030.

Moderated by Ms. Kareff Rafisura, Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction at UNESCAP, the discussion featured key perspectives from Dr. Abdul Muhari, Deputy Minister for Prevention at Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB); Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito R. Alejandro IV, Deputy Administrator for Administration at the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense; Mr. Marco Toscano-Rivalta, Chief of the UNDRR Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific; and Mr. Shombi Sharp, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

Framing 2026–2030 as a critical window for accelerated action, the panel reviewed progress and remaining gaps under existing disaster reduction frameworks. Panelists drew attention to the region’s increasingly complex risks, including compounding climate impacts, environmental damage, rapid urbanization, technological hazards, and widening socioeconomic inequality.

Dr. Abdul Muhari pointed out that while global reporting under the Sendai Framework reflects significant progress in disaster risk governance, member states must now accelerate translating these administrative systems into reduced impacts on the ground. 

"We should not ask, 'Did the infrastructure survive?' Instead, we should go forward, 'Can the system continue to function at minimum services?” stated Dr. Muhari. “We should see the protection is not in particular assets, but in systems.  We should ensure that the steel can deliver the minimum services under unexpected stresses."

Highlighting the systemic connection between development and disaster risk, Mr. Shombi Sharp stressed that resilience must be embedded in all public and private sector investments.

"If development is not risk-informed and disaster-resilient, it is not development," Sharp remarked. 

To ensure commitments lead to measurable progress, emphasis was placed on strengthening monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and learning systems while avoiding excessive administrative burdens. Strategic focus was also given to improving policy coherence across disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.

"The key principle should be to make monitoring and reporting more useful rather than simply asking members to report more," added Dr. Muhari. "We must adopt the approach of collect once, use multiple times.” He stressed that accountability should be linked to real-world results such as reduced risk, better-prepared communities, effective early action, and strengthened local resilience rather than simply tallying submitted reports or completed activities.

Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito R. Alejandro IV emphasized that regional commitments only gain true value when translated into local actions. "Implementation must be supported  by adequate capacities and resources," Alejandro noted.

Reflecting on ASEAN's leadership, Mr. Marco Toscano-Rivalta highlighted how the region is trailblazing oon global disaster governance. “AADMER is the only international legally binding agreement on disaster risk reduction and has been the case for 20 years,’’ he pointed out. He also called for deeper private sector engagement, emphasizing that linking businesses with early warning systems, damage and loss tracking, and risk-informed capital investments will serve as a major innovation for disaster risk management beyond 2030.

The AADMER Work Programme 2026–2030 serves as the primary mechanism for regional resilience, driven by core priorities in prevention, mitigation, and global leadership. Panelists explored how ASEAN Member States, sectoral bodies, the AHA Centre, and development partners can actively contribute to its implementation.

Among the top priorities identified was the urgent need to expand universal, people-centered multi-hazard early warning systems and institutionalize anticipatory action through stronger science-policy partnerships, innovation, and transboundary collaboration.

Recommendations from the session will form part of the Manila Declaration, outlining ASEAN’s collective commitments heading into the 2030 deadline.

ASEAN Accelerates Innovation, Data Sharing, and Partnerships for Early Warning Systems

MANILA, Philippines— The ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience (AMCDR) 2026 opened the third session bringing together disaster management leaders, public safety officials, and international partners to discuss concrete ways to translate regional frameworks into local action and strengthen public protection systems across the region.  Opening the discussion, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Executive Director and Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, Undersecretary Harold N. Cabreros stressed that regional commitments only gain real value when converted into concrete, localized actions where disasters strike. He emphasized the need to give local government units the authority and funding they need, modernize civil defense systems, and strictly enforce accountability to protect lives, livelihood, and critical infrastructure. "Regional commitments can only translate into resilience outcomes if local governments and frontline institutions have the authority, resources, information, and technical capacity to act," Usec. Cabreros emphasized. He highlighted that strengthening local capacities should extend beyond preparedness and response to include risk anticipation and foresight, ensuring hazard and impact data directly inform local decision-making. Usec. Cabreros added that while national governments bear the responsibility of providing the necessary policy, institutional, financial, and capacity-building support, local governments and frontline institutions must remain accountable for translating these resources into concrete measures on the ground. The discussion brought together regional and international perspectives and was moderated by Mr. Ronaldo Reario of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA). Speakers included Mr. Teong How Hwa, Deputy Commissioner for Strategy and Corporate Services, Singapore; and His Excellency Mr. So Socheath, Advisor to Cambodia’s National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM). Framing conversations around the 20-year milestone of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), speakers focused on the critical necessity of empowering frontline communities while modernizing civil defense architectures to withstand multi-hazard disasters. “Disaster risk reduction or resilience cannot sit solely with the disaster management authority, which in this case is the Singapore Civil Defence Force. We believe that disaster management responsibility must be integrated across areas such as land use planning, infrastructure, health, environmental management, and also the continuity of essential services,” Mr. Teong emphasized. He noted that embedding disaster risk considerations across all key government sectors forms the core of Singapore's national strategy, which also guides its contributions to regional policy frameworks under ASEAN. The session also highlighted the importance  of practical cooperation, and regional interoperability, particularly using ASEAN mechanisms and  arrangements.  Singapore’s Operation Lionheart and India’s NDRF operational models were cited as examples of how to strengthen mutual assistance, cross-border response capacity, and critical infrastructure resilience in alignment with the Sendai Framework. Delegates further underscored that localization must be people-centered and responsive to local needs.  Discussions emphasized that engaging local governance, academia, businesses, communities, civil society, must be fully integrated into disaster preparedness structures to ensure no community is left behind.  AHA Centre and ASEAN representatives framed the session's overarching purpose as a transition toward strict implementation and accountability. To ensure regional declarations translate into tangible resilience on the ground, progress should be assessed not only through  frameworks and , but also through  measurable outcomes in community preparedness, capacities of local institutions, protection of the vulnerable populations, continuity of essential services, and resilient recovery across Member States. As  climate-related hazards, and other emerging and systemic risks continue to increase and affect communities  across Southeast Asia, the panelists affirmed the importance of fully institutionalizing and localizing the AADMER Work Programme 2026-2030. The session underscored the need to translate regional commitments into practical action at the national and local levels, ensuring that communities are better equipped to anticipate, prepare, respond, and recover from disasters.

AMCDR ASEAN Set Focus on Localized Action and Disaster Resilience

MANILA, Philippines— The ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience (AMCDR) 2026 opened the third session bringing together disaster management leaders, public safety officials, and international partners to discuss concrete ways to translate regional frameworks into local action and strengthen public protection systems across the region.  Opening the discussion, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Executive Director and Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, Undersecretary Harold N. Cabreros stressed that regional commitments only gain real value when converted into concrete, localized actions where disasters strike. He emphasized the need to give local government units the authority and funding they need, modernize civil defense systems, and strictly enforce accountability to protect lives, livelihood, and critical infrastructure. "Regional commitments can only translate into resilience outcomes if local governments and frontline institutions have the authority, resources, information, and technical capacity to act," Usec. Cabreros emphasized. He highlighted that strengthening local capacities should extend beyond preparedness and response to include risk anticipation and foresight, ensuring hazard and impact data directly inform local decision-making. Usec. Cabreros added that while national governments bear the responsibility of providing the necessary policy, institutional, financial, and capacity-building support, local governments and frontline institutions must remain accountable for translating these resources into concrete measures on the ground. The discussion brought together regional and international perspectives and was moderated by Mr. Ronaldo Reario of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA). Speakers included Mr. Teong How Hwa, Deputy Commissioner for Strategy and Corporate Services, Singapore; and His Excellency Mr. So Socheath, Advisor to Cambodia’s National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM). Framing conversations around the 20-year milestone of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), speakers focused on the critical necessity of empowering frontline communities while modernizing civil defense architectures to withstand multi-hazard disasters. “Disaster risk reduction or resilience cannot sit solely with the disaster management authority, which in this case is the Singapore Civil Defence Force. We believe that disaster management responsibility must be integrated across areas such as land use planning, infrastructure, health, environmental management, and also the continuity of essential services,” Mr. Teong emphasized. He noted that embedding disaster risk considerations across all key government sectors forms the core of Singapore's national strategy, which also guides its contributions to regional policy frameworks under ASEAN. The session also highlighted the importance  of practical cooperation, and regional interoperability, particularly using ASEAN mechanisms and  arrangements.  Singapore’s Operation Lionheart and India’s NDRF operational models were cited as examples of how to strengthen mutual assistance, cross-border response capacity, and critical infrastructure resilience in alignment with the Sendai Framework. Delegates further underscored that localization must be people-centered and responsive to local needs.  Discussions emphasized that engaging local governance, academia, businesses, communities, civil society, must be fully integrated into disaster preparedness structures to ensure no community is left behind.  AHA Centre and ASEAN representatives framed the session's overarching purpose as a transition toward strict implementation and accountability. To ensure regional declarations translate into tangible resilience on the ground, progress should be assessed not only through  frameworks and , but also through  measurable outcomes in community preparedness, capacities of local institutions, protection of the vulnerable populations, continuity of essential services, and resilient recovery across Member States. As  climate-related hazards, and other emerging and systemic risks continue to increase and affect communities  across Southeast Asia, the panelists affirmed the importance of fully institutionalizing and localizing the AADMER Work Programme 2026-2030. The session underscored the need to translate regional commitments into practical action at the national and local levels, ensuring that communities are better equipped to anticipate, prepare, respond, and recover from disasters.

THE AEM-USTR CONSULTATION

1. The ASEAN Economic Ministers – United States Trade Representative (AEM-USTR) Consultation was held on 20 September 2026 in Manila, Philippines. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Ma. Cristina A. Roque, Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines and Ambassador Rick Switzer, Deputy United States Trade Representative.

2. The Meeting noted that based on ASEAN’s preliminary statistics, two-way merchandise trade between ASEAN and the U.S. stood at USD 550.5 billion in 2025. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow from the U.S. to ASEAN was recorded at USD 30 billion in the same year.

3. The Meeting exchanged views on regional and global economic challenges as well as the importance of keeping trade corridors open to facilitate trade flows, including energy supplies and other essential goods. The Meeting reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties, while advancing more resilient supply chains. In this regard, the Meeting further reaffirmed the importance of dialogue and the shared resolve to constructively address trade concerns.

4. The Meeting welcomed the implementation of the 2025-2026 ASEAN-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) Work Plan, which delivered good outcomes in many areas including digital economy, trade facilitation, intellectual property rights, good regulatory practices, and agriculture. The Meeting reaffirmed its commitments for deeper trade and investment ties through the endorsement of the 2026-2027 ASEAN-U.S. TIFA Work Plan, focusing on areas of shared strategic interests such as the digital economy, micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) development, trade facilitation, intellectual property rights, standards, good regulatory practices, labour, agriculture, competition and consumer protection, and strategic trade management.

5. The Meeting noted that the ASEAN-U.S. TIFA, signed in 2006, has served as the cornerstone of ASEAN-U.S. economic engagement for two decades. The Meeting underscored the importance of ensuring that the TIFA remains relevant, responsive, and forward-looking, and to continue to align it with the evolving priorities of both ASEAN and the United States, while reinforcing its role as the primary platform for advancing ASEAN-U.S. economic cooperation in the years ahead.

6. The Meeting recognized the important contribution of the U.S.-ASEAN Connect Series and the ASEAN-U.S. Partnership Programme in strengthening the ASEAN-U.S. economic relationship. The Meeting noted that the U.S.-ASEAN Connect Series has served as an effective platform for promoting digital cooperation, supporting MSMEs, fostering business linkages, and connecting U.S. and ASEAN businesses, investors and entrepreneurs across key sectors, thereby contributing to a more dynamic and commercially vibrant economic relationship. The Meeting also recognized the significant role of the ASEAN-U.S. Partnership Programme in providing targeted technical assistance and capacity building to ASEAN Member States. The Meeting expressed its appreciation for the continued support of the U.S. through these programmes, recognising that sustained and deepened U.S. technical assistance and engagement will be essential in advancing shared economic priorities.

7. The Meeting underscored the need to meaningfully reform the WTO to improve all its functions. The Meeting reaffirmed WTO Members’ commitment to work together to improve the WTO so that it is responsive to their needs and interests. The Meeting also recognised the positive role that plurilateral initiatives can play at the WTO, including the Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs), to foster new ideas, advance discussion on emerging trade issues, and build momentum toward multilateral outcomes.

8. The Meeting noted the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC)’s recommendations particularly toward achieving a robust ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) as well as advancing trade facilitation and resilient regional supply chains. The Meeting also welcomed USABC’s support of the Philippines ASEAN Chairship 2026 priorities.

9. The Meeting welcomed Timor-Leste’s accession as the 11th Member State of ASEAN and looked forward to its closer engagement in ASEAN-U.S. meetings and economic cooperation mechanisms. The Meeting acknowledged Timor-Leste’s continued efforts to advance its effective participation and full integration into ASEAN, including through the implementation of its ASEAN economic commitments in the Roadmap for Timor-Leste’s Full Membership in ASEAN. In this regard, the Meeting reaffirmed its commitment to continue providing the necessary capacity-building and technical assistance to support Timor-Leste’s effective integration into the regional economy.

DECLARATION ON THE PROVISIONAL APPLICATION OF THE SECOND PROTOCOL TO AMEND THE ASEAN TRADE IN GOODS AGREEMENT

The Governments of Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam;

RECALLING the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement done at Cha-am, Thailand on 26 February 2009, as amended by the First Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement done at Ha Noi, Viet Nam on 22 January 2019;

RECALLING FURTHER the Second Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement done at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 1 December 2025 (hereinafter referred to as the “Second Protocol”);

NOTING the decision of the Special ASEAN Economic Council Meeting on the Middle East Crisis held on 30 April 2026 that emphasised the need to deepen intra-ASEAN trade and called on Member States to explore the early ratification of the Second Protocol within this year;

NOTING FURTHER the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Response to the Middle East Crisis on 8 May 2026 to swiftly ratify and ensure the timely entry into force of the Second Protocol within this year, where possible; and

DESIRING to facilitate the earlier entry into force and application of the Second Protocol among Member States that are ready to do so to expedite its implementation, prior to its entry into force,

HEREBY DECIDE THAT:
1. Member States may, on a voluntary and reciprocal basis, apply the Second Protocol provisionally among themselves pending its entry into force on 1 June 2027.

2. Such provisional application shall apply only between those Member States that have notified the Secretary-General of ASEAN in accordance with paragraph 4 of their agreement to provisionally apply the Second Protocol.

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, Member States agree that the provisions of the Second Protocol set out in the Annex shall not be provisionally applied among them, but shall enter into force on 1 June 2027.

4. Any Member State intending to provisionally apply the Second Protocol shall submit its confirmation or acceptance in writing through a formal notification to the Secretary-General of ASEAN either:

(a) at the time of notifying in writing, or depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance, or approval with the Secretary-General of ASEAN upon completion of its internal procedures; or

(b) at any time prior to the entry into force of the Second Protocol on 1 June 2027.

5. The provisional application of the Second Protocol shall commence on the date as specified in the Member States’ notification, and terminate on 1 June 2027, the date of entry into force of the Second Protocol.

ADOPTED at Manila, Philippines, this Nineteenth Day of September in the Year Two Thousand and Twenty-Six.

PH partners with India’s NPCI to upgrade digital payments

The Philippine government is tapping India’s NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) to modernize the country’s digital payments infrastructure, accelerate sovereign Government-to-Person (G2P) benefit payments and establish cross-border digital payment connectivity.

This was discussed during a business meeting on September 12 among President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick D. Go, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina A. Roque, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda, and NIPL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ritesh Shukla.

The meeting centered on leveraging India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) technology stack to upgrade the Philippines' digital payment ecosystem. A key priority of the discussion was deploying UPI capabilities to enhance sovereign G2P transfers through the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), to improve the speed, transparency, and efficiency of government benefit disbursements. 

“During our meeting with President Marcos Jr. and NPCI International, we agreed to bring India's UPI technology to the Philippines. This will allow LandBank to distribute government financial aid much faster and make daily digital transactions easier and cheaper for ordinary Filipinos,” Secretary Roque said.

“By bringing India’s UPI technology to the Philippines, we will also directly empower our MSMEs by making cross-border payments seamless and digital transactions cheaper and more accessible. Connecting this system with QR Ph will enable our local enterprises to easily accept payments from foreign tourists and international buyers, driving sales and expanding their reach in the global digital economy,” Secretary Roque added.

“Following LANDBANK’s pioneering efforts to waive P2G fees and take the lead in reducing the cost of digital transfers, we continue to look for ways to make digital payments more affordable, efficient, and accessible. Through a potential partnership with NPCI International and by exploring proven payment technologies, we aim to lower the cost of delivering government services and make them faster, more secure, and more responsive to the needs of the Filipino people,” LANDBANK Chair and Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said.

Discussions also covered modernizing the national clearing network via the newly m4rged Payments Network of the Philippines, Inc. (PNPI/ BancNet) and linking India’s UPI with the Philippines’ QR Ph network, building on ongoing engagements with InstaPay ACH and Gcash.

To facilitate NIPL's strategic entry and operational integration, the Philippine government highlighted key institutional support mechanisms, including Green Lane expedited processing under Executive Order No. 18 for strategic digital infrastructure projects. Additionally, potential long-term fiscal incentive options were outlined under the CREATE MORE Act (R.A. 12066) and the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) for qualified fintech and IT investments.

Joining President Marcos Jr. and Cabinet officials at the meeting were Philippine Ambassador to India Josel Francisco Ignacio, PTIC-New Delhi Commercial Counsellor Rudolph Jay Velasco, Senior Representatives from NPCI International, LandBank President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and LandBank Senior Vice President Grace Ofelia Lovely V. Dayo.

The DTI, together with the DOF and PTIC-New Delhi, reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating inter-agency coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), LandBank and PNPI/BancNet to execute non-disclosure agreements and fast-track technical implementation. 

DTI 2026 COCONUTPhilippines Trade Fair generates P309.57M in sales

Proving that trade exhibitions offer far more than simple product exposure, the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) 2026 COCONUTPhilippines Trade Fair generated P309.57 million in total sales.

The impressive figure marks a major milestone for Filipino coconut enterprises following the event held from August 26 to 30 at the SMX Convention Center Manila.

This year’s fair brought together 300 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from across the Philippines. The sales performance represents a massive leap from the P96.9 million generated by 213 participating businesses during last year’s event.

Participating “cocopreneurs” showcased a wide variety of value-added products across food and beverage, health and wellness, personal care, home and lifestyle items, craft, and sustainable non-food materials. The strong turnout highlights both an expanding local coconut industry and the growing capacity of domestic businesses to meet diverse consumer and commercial demands.

Held in conjunction with National Coconut Week, the fair demonstrated a collaborative, whole-of-government approach. DTI’s market development strategies in tandem with programs led by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and partner agencies under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).

As the lead implementing agency, the PCA coordinates targeted initiatives designed to strengthen the coconut sector and raise incomes for local forming communities.

The wider CFIDP ecosystem also supports total industry growth—funding farmer assistance, cooperative training, research, technology adoption, product innovation and enterprise building.

The event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque alongside key PCA leadership. 

Highlights of the opening included the release of the CFIDP Coffee Table Book, the launch of the 2022–2025 CFIDP Terminal Report documenting key milestones and beneficiary stories, and the

debut of the official CFIDP website to streamline public access to industry resources.

To maximize commercial opportunities, the event featured a dedicated Buyers Lounge. Here, coconut MSMEs met directly with corporate and institutional buyers to pitch product lines, discuss sourcing requirements and secure long-term

business partnerships.

Ultimately, the success of the 2026 COCONUTPhilippines Trade Fair reinforces how research, technology and market development can align under unified government leadership to create sustainable, high-value economic opportunities for Filipino coconut farmers.