Jaehwa Bernardo

Former Valenzuela congressman and newly appointed DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian holds his first press conference with the media on  February 3, 2023 at the Department of Social Welfare and Development central office in Quezon City to discuss his plans and priorities as the department’s chief. Jire Carreon, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

DSWD urges stronger cooperation among ASEAN states amid global tensions

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177270603299320230203-gatchalian-rex-dswd-jvc-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Former Valenzuela congressman and newly appointed DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian holds his first press conference with the media on  February 3, 2023 at the Department of Social Welfare and Development central office in Quezon City to discuss his plans and priorities as the department’s chief. Jire Carreon, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA — Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Thursday called on other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for stronger cooperation amid global headwinds.“Our region faces rapidly evolving challenges—technological change, climate-related disasters, economic volatility, and social inequalities. These realities call on us to think strategically and center our development on people and families as the foundation of thriving societies,” Gatchalian said in his opening statement at the 35th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council, where he serves as chairman.Gatchalian said ASEAN member states should focus on four strategic priorities that include resilient and empowered families, inclusive development, smart youth and innovation, and environmentally sustainable and secure future. “Importante na the region not only watches but the region response as a region - as ASEAN to make sure na yung responde natin eh commensurate doon sa magnitude ng pangyayari,” Gatchalian said. This year&#x27;s ASCC meetings operationalized the succeeding meetings authorizing its senior officials, the technical working groups to review and put into details what need to be done in case a huge disaster happens in the region. On disaster resilience and climate action, the Philippines introduced a regional initiative—the Manila–ASEAN Strategic Protocol for Emergency and Comprehensive Transformation (Manila-ASPECT) Framework.The Manila-ASPECT aims to strengthen ASEAN’s disaster response and coordination mechanisms in line with the “One ASEAN, One Response” principle.“Itong Manila-ASPECT  (Manila-ASEAN Strategic Protocol for Emergency and Comprehensive Transformation) katulad ng napagkasunduan ng mga ministro kanina ng ASCC - dapat turns into reality. Hindi na puwede puro salita lamang, hindi puwede puro deklarasyon lamang, kailangan nararamdaman ng ating mga bulnerable at mga nangangailangang residente sa buong rehiyon,” Gatchalian explained.Gatchalian believes the metric of a successful disaster management is always based on how the government was able to act immediately and if it commensurate the needs of the people.“Ang disaster, it’s always measured by the speed  - yung bilis at yung commensurate…angkop ba yung tulong,” Gatchalian said.Gatchalian said, the nitty gritty of this is written in a draft proposal for all ASEAN-ASCC Council.For the first priority, resilient and empowered families, Gatchalian highlighted the importance of alternative child care systems, citing the situation in the Philippines.He also emphasized the need to prepare the region for demographic shifts as there is a growing ageing population in most ASEAN countries.According to Gatchalian, for the third priority - Smart youth and innovation, investing in the youth’s participation, digital literacy, creativity and ethical use of emerging innovations will enable the ASEAN to adapt to technological change and global shift.On Thursday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also partnered with Singapore&#x27;s Ministry of Social Family Development to strengthen programs for vulnerable sectors.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/2/dswd-to-focus-on-elderly-families-at-asean-meet-1346">READ: DSWD to focus on elderly, families at ASEAN meet </a></div>The partnership will highlight joint activities to enhance programs for persons with disabilities, women empowerment and family, and child development.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian called on other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for stronger cooperation amid global headwinds.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian called on other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for stronger cooperation amid global headwinds.