The Philippines needs to invest more in infrastructure, disaster-response mechanisms, and adaptation systems as the country faces increasingly unpredictable and severe disasters, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said.

Speaking on Wednesday, September 16, during the final day of the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience in Pasay City, Teodoro said the country must strengthen its capacity to deal with disasters and complex emergencies that can have greater impacts on communities.

He pointed to situations such as volcanic degassing combined with heavy rains from the southwest monsoon that can trigger lahar, as well as contrasting weather conditions where one part of the country experiences heavy rainfall while another suffers from drought.

Teodoro said the Philippines must move faster in developing systems and infrastructure that can improve resilience, stressing that such investments are important not only for disaster preparedness but also for broader national development.

He added that the Philippines can learn from the best practices and experiences of other countries in strengthening disaster response.

The statement came as Southeast Asian countries pushed for stronger regional cooperation on disaster preparedness during the two-day ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in a message delivered by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Tuesday, called on ASEAN member states to improve early warning systems, strengthen preparedness, and deepen cooperation as disasters become more frequent, interconnected, and costly across the region.

The conference concluded with ASEAN member states adopting the Manila Declaration, which sets directions for regional disaster resilience efforts through 2030 and beyond. The declaration calls for stronger prevention, anticipatory action, monitoring and cooperation among member states.

ASEAN currently comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

‍