Makati City, March 5 (AseanAll) — The Philippines will push for the adoption of the Manila-ASEAN Strategic Protocol for Emergency and Comprehensive Transformation (Manila-ASPECT) Framework during its Chairship of the ASEAN 2026, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian announced on March 5, 2026.
“I would like to specifically reiterate our focus on one of the initiatives following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., taking into account the intensifying environmental threats we experience, the ASEAN Strategic Protocol for Emergency and Comprehensive Transformation or ASPECT,” Gatchalian said in a post-meeting press briefing in Makati City, the Philippines.
“We envision of transforming our disaster response to being anticipatory, integrated, and inclusive. And hopefully, this leader’s statement is one of the two documents for adoption at the 48th ASEAN Summit,” Gatchalian said.
The Manila-ASPECT Framework provides ASEAN Member States with a standardized approach to improve regional interoperability, data sharing, logistics, and cross-border processes, supporting people-oriented and rights-based disaster response.
While promising to make the Manila-ASPECT a top priority in the current discussions, Gatchalian said the framework will push for the setting up of a trigger mechanism to define the timeliness and levels of interoperability and intervention among ASEAN Member States and their dialogue partners with countries needing assistance.
“Ang gusto ng ating Pangulo ay i-parallel ito dun sa existing na setup na ‘ibahin natin ito dahil ito mabilis, commensurate.’ Ibig sabihin, ‘pag napakalaki na ng disaster mas maraming involved sa disaster response,” Gatchalian said, acknowledging that the effects of climate change are no longer isolated in a single country.
Gatchalian explained that the current mechanism, the ASEAN Co-ordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), should be looked into, taking into account the agility or quickness in responding to disasters and emergencies.
To operationalize the proposed framework, high-level and technical working group meetings will be conducted, Gatchalian said.
The DSWD chief chaired the 35th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting, which concluded on Thursday, and during which regional ministers adopted key frameworks and priority social policies for Southeast Asia.
