Philippines Calls for Global Humanitarian Reset Rooted in Law, Equity, and Local Leadership at the OCHA ECOSOC HAS 2025
DSWD Undersecretary Diane Cajipe delivers the Philippines’ national statement during the General Discussions of the OCHA ECOSOC HAS 2025
GENEVA 27 June 2025 — At the 2025 ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment (HAS), the Philippines, represented by Undersecretary Diane Cajipe of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), called for a bold reset of the global humanitarian system—one that is anticipatory, people-centered, and grounded in humanitarian principles.
Speaking at multiple high-level panels, the Philippines emphasized three key priorities: ensuring principled and inclusive humanitarian action, advancing compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and reforming humanitarian financing to be more equitable, efficient, and locally driven.
In discussions on armed conflict, Undersecretary Cajipe highlighted the Philippines’ trauma informed, community-based responses, its Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, and the imperative of unimpeded humanitarian access. “Even in war, there are rules. IHL must be honored to preserve our shared humanity,” she affirmed.
As co-chair of the ICRC-led Global IHL Committees Workstream, the Philippines underscored its leadership in institutionalizing IHL across government and announced it will co-host the Asia-Pacific Regional IHL Conference in Manila this August.
On humanitarian financing, the Philippines called the global funding gap a crisis of equity and urged donors to support anticipatory systems integrated into national social protection programs, scalable emergency cash transfers, and digital aid delivery platforms. “This is indeed a challenge, but more importantly, an opportunity for us all to do better. The Philippines stands ready to work with all partners to rebuild a humanitarian system that is anticipatory, inclusive, lean, and principled.” Undersecretary Cajipe said.
DFA Assistant Secretary for UN and other International Organizations Maria Teresa Almojuela echoed the call for system-wide reform during the panel on reimagining humanitarian action. She emphasized the importance of community leadership, regional collaboration, and locally adapted solutions, citing outcomes from the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction hosted in Manila last year.
The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to co-designing a more effective and humane humanitarian architecture—grounded in resilience, powered by data, and anchored in solidarity and shared responsibility. END
DSWD Undersecretary Diane Cajipe presents the Philippines’ key priorities on humanitarian financing during High-Level Panel Discussion 3
DFA UNIO Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Almojuela called for a reimagined, community-driven humanitarian system as she delivered the Philippine statement at HLP4
For more information, visit https://www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHinGeneva/ or https://www.instagram.com/phingeneva/.