Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. called for stronger regional cooperation on disaster response and food security as Southeast Asia braces for a potential Super El Niño that could disrupt food supplies, water resources, power systems and connectivity across the region. El Niño, a climate pattern marked by unusually warm sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, can shift rainfall patterns across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Speaking in opening remarks at the 20th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus in Cebu, which was livestreamed on Facebook, Mr. Teodoro described cooperation on humanitarian assistance and disaster response as "one of the most visible expressions of solidarity." The ADMM-Plus format brings together the defense chiefs of all 10 ASEAN member states and eight dialogue partners, among them the United States, China, Japan, India and Russia.

"It is a comfort to know that each one of us can rely on our ASEAN brothers and sisters for assistance in times of need," he added.

Mr. Teodoro noted that natural disasters have become more frequent, severe and unpredictable, making regional cooperation increasingly important. Concerns over food and energy security have also grown more pressing as supply chains face disruptions from conflicts outside Southeast Asia, he said.

"This initiative gains importance as Southeast Asia braces for a Super El Niño, which will likewise affect food, water, electricity, and connectivity in our respective countries, therefore having serious potential security implications," he said. The comment placed a climate event squarely on the agenda of a defense forum, reflecting how food and water stress are being treated alongside conventional security concerns.

Unity 'Perhaps Even Existential'

Mr. Teodoro argued that ASEAN's unity would be critical as member states confront common challenges. "First, in a fragmenting world, our internal stability and intra ASEAN unity are vital, perhaps even in the future existential," he said.

"It is only when we are united that we can effectively uphold ASEAN centrality and the principles that bind us, such as mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes and renunciation of the threat or use of force," he added.

He cited maritime security, the protection of critical underwater infrastructure and military-to-military exchanges as areas where ASEAN members should deepen cooperation, and urged delegates to discuss regional security challenges candidly during the meetings and related engagements.

The Philippines, he said, remained committed to working with ASEAN partners toward "a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Southeast Asia, and a free and open Indo-Pacific."

US Proposes Defense Framework

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, proposed a US-ASEAN defense cooperation framework to guide joint initiatives in the coming years as Washington seeks to deepen security ties in Southeast Asia.

"We propose that we work together to develop a US-ASEAN framework for defense cooperation, a practical framework that guides our cooperation over the next several years," Mr. Hegseth said during the meeting.

He said the United States would continue working with ASEAN on maritime domain awareness, interoperability and naval cooperation. "Serious partners train together, learn together, plan together, and build the confidence and competence necessary to prevent conflict," he said.

Mr. Hegseth also cited US support for ASEAN-led efforts to sustain the ceasefire between fellow ASEAN members Cambodia and Thailand, saying Washington remained ready to assist.

Call for Early Preparation

Separately, Senator Francis Pancratius N. Pangilinan urged the Philippine government to preposition relief supplies and strengthen disaster preparedness measures before the expected impact of a Super El Niño worsens.

"Priority must be given to vulnerable households, with clear delivery schedules and safeguards to ensure that assistance reaches intended beneficiaries without unnecessary delay," he said in a statement.

He said farmers, fisherfolk, low-income households, children, pregnant and lactating women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and residents of isolated communities should be prioritized.

The World Meteorological Organization, a United Nations specialized agency for weather and climate, has projected that the El Niño could persist through February 2027 and potentially become the strongest since the 1950s.

The Department of Agriculture said on Oct. 21 that El Niño had already caused P8.57 billion in farm damage, equivalent to 220,307 metric tons of lost production. The losses affected 288,058 farmers and damaged 291,154 hectares of farmland across 14 regions, the department said. The tally covers damage recorded so far, ahead of a projected window that runs through February 2027.

Mr. Pangilinan proposed an eight-point action plan that includes disaster declarations, identification of funding sources, protection of farms and water systems, enforcement of price controls, anti-profiteering measures, livelihood assistance and monitoring of government interventions.

"Rather than us pointing fingers and blaming each other once the problem is there, why not prepare for it now?" he said. "We already know that a Super El Niño is impending and it is absolutely certain that farmers, fisherfolk, and low-income households will be the very first to be affected."

This article was originally published by BusinessWorld on Oct. 28, 2026. Reporting by Pexcel John Bacon and Francessca S. Abalos. Source: ASEAN urged to prepare for Super El Niño disruptions to food supplies