13 August 2020 – Members of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) convened at the 36^th ACDM Meeting on 11 August to discuss the implementation of the AADMER Work Programme 2016-2020 and set priorities to improve regional policies and strategies on disaster management.

The Office of Civil Defense Philippines – ACDM’s current Chair – hosted the online meeting. It was held in conjunction with the 13^th Meeting of the Joint Task Force (JTF) to Promote Synergy with Other Relevant Sectoral Bodies on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and the 12^th Meeting of the AHA Centre Governing Board.

The regional fora are critical for ASEAN to monitor the progress implementation of the AADMER Work Programme, the operationalisation of the ASEAN Declaration on One ASEAN One Response, and the strengthening of ASEAN’s multi-sectoral approach to disaster management.

In his opening speech, Philippines’ Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana mentioned that ASEAN has shown progress in reducing vulnerabilities and building resilience of its communities. He highlighted the need for the region’s efforts in disaster management to be strengthened to ensure the achievement of ASEAN’s vision on disaster management in 2025.

At the meeting, participants discussed the development progress of the new AADMER Work Programme 2021-2025 and the drafting of the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening of Adaptation to Drought.

The meeting also exchanged views on the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration of the Special ASEAN Summit on COVID-19 and the Joint Statement for the Special ASEAN Plus Three Summit on COVID-19, and explored potential cooperation with several ASEAN Dialogue Partners.

Meanwhile, representatives from the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting, ASEAN Senior Official Meeting on Health Development, and ASEAN Social Welfare and Development participated the 13^th JTF on HADR Meeting to discuss the multi-faceted impact of disasters.

The JTF Meeting reinforced the need to strengthen the existing cross-sectoral mechanism to address critical issues that require policy and strategic response, in a more effective and practical cooperation.

At its 12^th Meeting, the AHA Centre Governing Board commended the handover of 75 permanent house units that were constructed under the first phase of the ASEAN Village project, to the local government of Palu City, Central Sulawesi.

The Board also expressed its satisfaction toward AHA Centre’s partnership with various entities, and welcomed the assistance provided by the German government through GIZ’s project to support institutional strengthening and capacity development of the Centre.

The ACDM provides oversight to the implementation of the Work Programme and reports directly to the Ministers in charge of Disaster Management, who also serve as Conference of the Parties (COP) to the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response.

As the Governing Board of the AHA Centre, the ACDM provides further guidance to the AHA Centre, as the primary operational engine for AADMER.