Philippines urges ASEAN to strengthen adaptive social protection systems
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Philippine Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Rex Gatchalian has called on ASEAN member states to strengthen social protection systems to make them more adaptive to evolving risks, ranging from climate change and labour market disruptions to geopolitical conflicts.
The call was made by Gatchalian as he opened the ASEAN High-Level Conference on Social Protection, held from 21 to 24 July at the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila, Philippines.
"The question we face is no longer whether social protection is important. The real question is what kind of social protection architecture ASEAN needs for the next 20 years," Gatchalian said, as quoted from the ASEAN 2026 website on Thursday.
Gatchalian, who also serves as Chair of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), said the region needs to build social protection systems capable of responding to new vulnerabilities caused by pandemics, climate change, and shifting economic conditions.
Citing data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Gatchalian noted that around 35.7 per cent of ASEAN’s population is covered by at least one form of social protection benefit. This figure remains below the global average of 47 per cent.
According to him, the increasing impact of climate change and geopolitical conflicts is expected to heighten public vulnerability, making it essential for social protection systems to adapt to these changes.
"Without responsive systems, our efforts so far in facing evolving risks and vulnerabilities will be inadequate. It is our responsibility to continue adapting to the demands of the times," he explained.
He further questioned the extent to which digitalisation has genuinely expanded access to services, and whether shock-responsive social protection has become a central part of public policy.
According to Gatchalian, such an evaluation is crucial as a basis for formulating a more ambitious yet realistic post-2025 ASEAN social protection agenda.
He called for the building of an ASEAN community that places social protection as the foundation of public welfare, rather than merely a last-resort safety net.
"This is the community we must build. A community where social protection is not just a last-resort safety net for the people, but part of the foundation that keeps them resilient and open to various opportunities," Gatchalian said.