Philippines Urges Canada to Maintain Support for Disaster Response and Health Security in ASEAN

Philippine Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs and SOM Leader Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro represents the Philippines during the 21st ASEAN-Canada Senior Officials’ Dialogue

OTTAWA 24 May 2024 - Citing the increasing frequency and gravity of natural disasters in the ASEAN Region, Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro urged Canada to continue its support for ASEAN in boosting capacity in disaster preparedness and resilience.

Undersecretary Lazaro also recognized Canada’s efforts in promoting health security in ASEAN and looked forward to Canada’s proposed project on Strengthening Regional Health Security Architecture within the ASEAN Health through Intensification of Biosafety and Biosecurity Initiatives.

Canadian Senior Official Weldon Epp, in response, reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to promoting disaster preparedness and health security in ASEAN which it has consistently supported through the Integrated Disaster Risk Management Fund and Weapons Threat Reduction Program (WTRP).

The Senior Officials then discussed ways forward to further strengthen Philippines-Canada relations which have been marked by high-level engagements and regional initiatives, including, among others, the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO) based in Manila which aims to benefit not only the Philippines but also the entire ASEAN region. 

Undersecretary Lazaro also welcomed Canada’s support for the 2016 Arbitral Ruling through bilateral statements as well as through the Group of Seven (G7). Canada will assume the presidency of the G7 next year, under which mantle it vowed to undertake the responsibility of continuously supporting peace and security in the region. END