ASEAN leaders batting for stronger disaster response collab —DSWD's Gatchalian

Stronger disaster response collaboration was among the main points of discussions in the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Malaysia, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Monday. 

Gatchalian told GMA News Online that during the 28th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit, Japan's assistance to the Philippines following the Cebu earthquake in September was highlighted. 

''In the aspect of disaster response and crisis management that is being discussed now, the Philippines recently benefited from augmentation of non-food items for Cebu earthquake victims from Japan. This area of collaboration is now taking center stage in the APT Summit,'' Gatchalian said in a message.

''The world leaders are all batting for stronger disaster response and crisis management collab,'' he added.

Gatchalian further said the ASEAN members are batting for more bilateral and multilateral disaster response in the region.

''More of what Japan did recently when we had the Bogo earthquake. And given that our country ranks so high in the disaster susceptibility index this regional augmentation serves as a good standby assistance for us,'' he said.

Gatchalian joined President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. during his participation in the ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur.

Gatchalian said Marcos has made multiple references to Social Cultural Communities that the Department of Social Welfare and Development handles for the Philippines.

These include more people to people exchanges, stronger social protection regime in the region, food security especially during disasters, and region-wide partnership for disaster response, he said. 

''These are the areas of interest for DSWD. In fact during the ASEAN-Korea and APT Summits, these items took center stage not just during the intervention of the President but also during the interventions of other heads of states,'' Gatchalian said. 

Gatchalian said that ASEAN used to have only two pillars, which are security and trade. He stressed that the Philippines pushed for the socio-cultural pillar that will house the people to people investments. 

''The ASEAN socio cultural community ministers have different backgrounds. Some are educ ministers, some tourism, some communications, some (like us) social development. The pillar is a diverse portfolio,'' he explained. 

Along with leaders from the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, the Summit reviewed the progress made under the APT cooperation framework and tackled its future direction.  

It also highlighted key areas for discussion such as the digital economy, maritime cooperation, energy, connectivity, health and education. —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News