Defense Secretary Gilberto ‘Gibo’ Teodoro Jr. at the 20th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on October 28, 2026. (Courtesy: ASEAN 2026 PH)
Cooperation on humanitarian assistance and disaster response is one of the most visible expressions of solidarity among ASEAN member states, 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.
Teodoro 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 strong El Niño phenomenon, which could affect food, water, electricity, and connectivity in the region.
Teodoro stressed that humanitarian and disaster response cooperation is more than logistics, it is a reflection of trust among neighbors.
“It is comforting to know that member states can rely on their ASEAN brothers and sisters for assistance in times of need,” he said.
The defense chief also flagged an urgent concern, the looming super El Niño phenomenon, which experts warn could disrupt food supply, water, electricity, and digital connectivity across Southeast Asia.
“Stronger cooperation among ASEAN members is no longer optional,” he said. “It is a necessity as we prepare for cascading impacts that go beyond borders.”
Fifty years of amity, 20 years of defense dialogue, this year’s meetings carry extra weight as ASEAN marks two milestones: the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the 20th anniversary of the ADMM.
Teodoro said the ADMM has become a critical platform for turning dialogue into action over the past two decades.
The Philippines, through the Department of National Defense (DND), is hosting both the 20th ADMM and the 13th ADMM-Plus on October 28-29, 2026 in Lapu-Lapu City. Defense ministers from ASEAN’s 10 member states and dialogue partners are attending the two-day gathering.
With disaster risks rising and geopolitics shifting, officials said the meetings will focus on practical cooperation — from joint disaster drills and rapid deployment teams to intelligence sharing and climate adaptation.
For the Philippines, a country hit by an average of 20 typhoons a year, ASEAN’s disaster solidarity is not just diplomatic. It’s survival.
“As the region faces more complex threats, our unity in responding to them may be our strongest defense,” Teodoro said.
The Philippines, through the Department of National Defense (DND), hosts the 20th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) on October 28-29, 2026 in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.