Debated in Parliament on 15 Oct 2025.
Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs in light of the recent natural disasters in the Philippines, whether Singapore is exploring together with ASEAN, longer-term forms of support for disaster-prone countries in the region, including technical assistance, capacity-building and training in disaster management and climate resilience.
Beyond the immediate humanitarian assistance that we provide bilaterally to fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, there are ASEAN mechanisms that enhance the region's emergency preparedness and resilience against natural disasters which Singapore participates actively in. This includes the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), which is a regional framework for cooperation, coordination, technical assistance and resource mobilisation in disaster management.
Singapore contributes actively to the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM), which provides leadership in the implementation of the AADMER, including capacity building and sharing of best practices.
Singapore hosts the annual ASEAN Strategic Policy Dialogue on Disaster Management, which brings together senior officials and leading technical experts to address challenges in ASEAN's disaster management landscape. In addition, Singapore is the co-chair of the ICT Advisory Group on Disaster Management of the ACDM, led by the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management.
Under the Singapore Cooperation Programme, Singapore conducts capacity building programmes on disaster risk reduction and climate resilience, working closely with international partners, such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
PAPERCUTS