The ASEAN Strategic Policy Dialogue on Disaster Management (SPDDM)
The ASEAN Strategic Policy Dialogue on Disaster Management (SPDDM) was held on 19 August at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore. The event was co-organised by the Singapore Civil Defence Force, the ASEAN Secretariat, the AHA Centre, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, with the RSIS HADR Programme participating as knowledge partner for the event. Mrs Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Second Minister for Home Affairs, gave the opening remarks as the guest of honour. Under the theme “The Future of Disaster Resilience is Now: Are We Ready?”, this year’s dialogue facilitated discussion on forward looking ideas that can potentially enhance disaster resilience in the future with an emphasis on the importance to act and invest now.