The Department of National Defense (DND) co-chaired a key regional meeting focused on strengthening civil-military coordination for disaster response across Southeast Asia, as the Philippines continues to lead various initiatives under its 2026 ASEAN Chairship.

DND Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Marita I. Yoro steered the 22nd Meeting of the ASEAN Technical Working Group on Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC) on March 10, 2026, conducted via video teleconferencing from Quezon City.

According to a DND press release issued March 11, 2026, Assistant Secretary Yoro served in her capacity as Chair of the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials’ Meeting Working Group (ADSOM WG) during the virtual gathering.

Multi-National Leadership Structure

The Philippine official co-chaired the meeting alongside representatives from Malaysia, Myanmar, and Singapore, who serve as Co-Chairs of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) Working Group on Preparedness, Response and Recovery.

This collaborative leadership structure reflects the regional approach to disaster management coordination, bringing together both defense and civilian disaster management sectors from across ASEAN member states.

The annual meeting serves as a platform for representatives from Defense Sectors and National Disaster Management Organizations of all ASEAN Member States to promote cross-sectoral cooperation in building regional disaster resilience.

Expanded Participation This Year

The 2026 iteration marked a significant milestone with the first-time participation of representatives from the ASEAN Health Sector, according to the DND statement.

This expansion reflects the broadening scope of cooperation under the Technical Working Group on CIMIC, aimed at creating a more robust disaster management governance structure across the region.

The inclusion of health sector representatives acknowledges the critical role of medical response and public health considerations in comprehensive disaster management efforts.

Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 Chairship Theme

Assistant Secretary Yoro emphasized the meeting’s alignment with the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 Chairship theme of “Navigating Our Future, Together” during her remarks to participants.

She stressed the importance of leveraging the collective capacity of the region to facilitate stronger responses to current and emerging challenges, supporting the vision of “One ASEAN, One Response.”

In the area of disaster management, Yoro acknowledged that civil-military collaboration remains a cornerstone in mitigating risks and ensuring swift responses to natural disasters and emergencies.

The assistant secretary underscored the unique capabilities that regional militaries bring to disaster response efforts, including logistics, transportation, communication systems, and rapid deployment capabilities.

Philippine Commitment to Regional Cooperation

During the meeting, Assistant Secretary Yoro reaffirmed the commitment of the ASEAN Defense Sector to supporting the work of the Technical Working Group on CIMIC and broader ASEAN efforts to reduce disaster losses.

She emphasized undertaking efforts to respond faster and deliver aid more effectively across the region, particularly important given Southeast Asia’s vulnerability to natural disasters including typhoons, earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions.

The Philippines, as current ASEAN Chair, has prioritized strengthening regional mechanisms for disaster preparedness and response, drawing from its own extensive experience managing natural disasters.

Meeting Discussions and Outcomes

According to the DND press release, participants discussed recent developments on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts under relevant mechanisms of ASEAN civil and defense sectors.

The meeting facilitated in-depth discussions on the progress of civil-military coordination on HADR initiatives across member states.

Participants generated recommendations on ways to improve interoperability among existing mechanisms, aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of joint disaster response operations.

These discussions are particularly relevant for Negros Oriental and other Philippine provinces that frequently face natural disasters and benefit from coordinated national and regional response efforts.

ASEAN Institutional Framework

The ADSOM operates under the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Pillar and functions as a key policy-making body under the ASEAN Defense Sector.

Meanwhile, the ACDM operates under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Pillar and serves as the primary driver in implementing the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER).

AADMER represents ASEAN’s key legally-binding framework for cooperation and collaboration on joint emergency response to disasters across the ten-member regional bloc.

Regional Disaster Management Context

The meeting comes at a time when Southeast Asia continues to face increasing challenges from climate change-related disasters and extreme weather events.

The Philippines, located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and along major typhoon paths, has extensive experience in disaster management that contributes to regional knowledge-sharing efforts.

Negros Oriental, like other Philippine provinces, benefits from these regional coordination mechanisms through improved early warning systems, resource sharing, and technical expertise exchange.

Looking Forward

The outcomes of the 22nd TWG on CIMIC meeting will contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen ASEAN’s collective disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

As the Philippines continues its ASEAN Chairship throughout 2026, additional meetings and initiatives focusing on regional cooperation in various sectors are expected.

The expanded participation of health sector representatives suggests future meetings may continue to broaden their scope to address emerging challenges in disaster management and humanitarian response.

Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Department of National Defense