At the 47th ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management conference in Phnom Penh, governments are assessing the impact of natural hazards and charting new roadmaps to protect the economically vibrant region.

As the conference kicks off on Monday, the Philippines is still reeling from the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the nation’s southern coast last Friday morning. At least seven people were reported to have lost their lives.

“The Philippines is one of the calamity-prone countries in Asia. This forum is important to us because we want to learn from other countries how to handle calamities. 

“Although we have our own mechanisms, we still want to know other technologies to address these disasters. Our priority is in saving lives and properties and minimising the risks,” Senior Undersecretary of the Department of National Defence of the Philippines Irineo C. Espino told Bernama on the sidelines of the meeting. 

Southeast Asia, with about 670 million people, is often vulnerable to disasters such as typhoons, landslides, floods, drought, and earthquakes, which inflict damages to supply chains, economies, and agriculture communities.

The region is the world’s largest producer of commodities such as palm oil and rice. Indonesia and Malaysia together produce nearly 80 per cent of global palm oil exports. 

Vietnam and Thailand are the top rice exporters to the international market, each producing eight million metric tonnes annually.

If unchecked, the weather-related tragedies could harm the region's attraction as a major destination for foreign direct investments.

Vietnam is still struggling with its floods after Typhoon Matmo struck last week, destroying over 10,000 houses. Losses were estimated at RM1 billion (US$267 million), reported Vietnam News Agency. 

In neighbouring Laos, typhoon Bualoi destroyed over 1,300 hectares of rice fields, and nearly 20 villages suffered from heavy floods. 

At the opening day of the conference, ASEAN governments are proposing to intensify cooperation with major countries like Australia, India, and New Zealand, which are also vulnerable to natural disasters.

“Timor-Leste is a small country, and we also face calamities like heavy floods in 2021. We need to know how to respond to disasters.

“Once we become a full member, we can collaborate with member countries to tackle disasters and save lives,” the nation’s Civil Protection Authority’s National Deputy for International Relation and Communication, Cesario Da Silva Marques, told Bernama.

-- BERNAMA