Representatives from Australian and Philippine agencies have discussed their civil-military preparedness and response to major disasters in a three-day tabletop exercise in Manila.
The activity, from September 10 to 12, was part of Australia's Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2024 (IPE24) and facilitated knowledge sharing between more than 60 representatives from Australian and Philippine agencies on their preparedness and response to major disasters.
During the exercise, the Australian Civil Military Centre (ACMC), the Philippine Office of Civil Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines examined civil-military cooperation in response to a hypothetical earthquake impacting metropolitan Manila. The focus was on the Philippine domestic response and the involvement of Australia, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations in the event of a request for international support.
ACMC Director International and Domestic Engagement Peter Giugni said the Philippines, and south-east Asia more broadly, were prone to a range of hazards including typhoons and flooding.
"The frequency and severity of disasters associated with climate change means that capacity-sharing activities such as this exercise are more important than ever," Mr Giugni said.
"This activity was an opportunity to share operational experiences and continue to build relationships with Philippine agencies."
Other IPE24 activities in the Philippines sought to build both countries' maritime law expertise; embed gender, peace and security into defence planning; share insights on leadership priorities and opportunities at the senior enlisted leaders' workshop; and participate in friendly competition through men's and women's basketball games.
To learn more about ACMC's commitment to strengthening disaster management capacity, visit: acmc.gov.au/why-were-here/disaster-management
