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MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government formalized its contribution of $10,000 to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) trust fund for tsunami, disaster and climate preparedness for 2026, underscoring the Philippines’ steadfast commitment to climate action and disaster preparedness.
Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz Paredes and Srinivas Tata, director of UNESCAP for Asia and the Pacific’s Strategic and Program Management Division, signed the Trust Fund Agreement on May 5 at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok.
The Philippines’ donation will be utilized for the implementation of the Trust Fund’s Strategy 2025-2030, which focuses on strengthening the resilience of countries in the Asia-Pacific region to disasters and climate hazards.
The Trust Fund was established in 2005 in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Originally designed to support tsunami early warning systems, its mandate evolved to encompass broader disaster and climate impacts. It is the sole regional funding mechanism that is dedicated to building and strengthening end-to-end multi-hazard early warning systems across Asia and the Pacific, with a focus on high-risk countries.
The Philippines holds a unique position in the Trust Fund as both a donor and recipient. Beyond its financial contributions to the Trust Fund in 2011, 2024 and 2026, the Philippines actively shares its knowledge and best practices to support other countries in navigating similar challenges.
The Philippines has also been a direct beneficiary of 13 projects that bolstered the country’s disaster preparedness capabilities. These initiatives include the installation of sea-level and seismic stations, and the development of tsunami warning and evacuation standard operating procedures.
Currently, the Philippines serves as an observer to the Advisory Council of the Trust Fund.
