On 6 May 2024, Taiwan and the Philippines took a significant step forward in disaster management collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) and Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on the partnership for landslide and debris flow disaster management.
In the signing ceremony, Taiwan’s Representative Ambassador Wallace Chow emphasized that the MOU comes at a crucial time when both Taiwan and the Philippines face increasing risks from natural calamities due to factors such as climate change and seismic activity. Recent events have underscored the urgency of strengthening collaboration in disaster management. He underscored the significance of the partnership, stating, "This collaboration between Taiwan and the Philippines represents a strong commitment to build more resilient communities and mitigate the impact of natural disasters."
Under the MOU, Taiwan and the Philippines commit to jointly conducting research and development on the investigation, monitoring, early warning, and risk assessment of landslide disasters. Leveraging advanced modeling techniques such as Big Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Remote Sensing Technologies, both countries aim to enhance their capabilities in disaster management.
In attendance were representatives from both Taiwan and the Philippine governments, as well as key stakeholders from academia, and research institutions.
The signing of the MOU reflects shared commitment of Taiwan and the Philippines to bilateral cooperation and disaster resilience. (E)
