Text by Jennifer ManongdoPhoto by Sarah Hazel Moces Pulumbarit Dr. Carlos Primero Gundran (left), Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health Program (UPM DRRMH) and Gilbert Albero, A-PAD Philippines president chairperson sign the Memorandum of Understanding during the APAD international symposium held at the Grand Westside Manila Bay in Parañaque City on Sept. 17, 2025. Witnessing the signing of the MOU is Athea Peñaloza, A-PAD PH Executive Director.  The University of the Philippines Manila entered into a partnership with the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management Philippines, Inc. (A-PAD PH)  to advance health emergency and disaster risk management through knowledge sharing, joint training, research, and advocacy initiatives. Gilbert Albero, A-PAD Philippines president and Dr. Carlos Primero Gundran,  Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health Program (UPM DRRMH) chairperson signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Sept. 17, 2025, during the APAD international symposium held at the Grand Westside Manila Bay in Parañaque City.  The agreement establishes a framework for the exchange of critical information on disaster preparedness, emergency response protocols, and post-disaster health interventions. A-PAD PH is a member of A-PAD, a transnational disaster aid alliance that works to facilitate cooperation and understanding between governments, private companies, and non government organizations in the Asia Pacific region. Meanwhile, A-PAD PH seeks partnerships and pre-agreements with health disaster risk management groups in order to provide efficient assistance to populations affected by disasters.  Through the DRRMH, the partnership seeks to improve the responsiveness and coordination of health systems during emergencies, while promoting evidence-based practices in disaster risk reduction.  Aside from the abovementioned tasks, the agreement stipulates that UP Manila and A-PAD PH will collaborate on research initiatives that analyze the impact of disasters on public health and healthcare infrastructure,  and advocate for policies that will strengthen and improve the disaster risk reduction and management for health systems to ensure equitable health access to healthcare during and after disasters.  During the program, Gilbert Albero, A-PAD Philippines president emphasized the importance of putting resilience into practice.  “It should not really be just an idea or a concept…That's why we in the Philippines really put a focus on putting resilience into practice, into action, in giving it to others,” Albero said. “It should not be just about system or structures. It's also should be about keeping value or the aspect of partnership in all of our journeys.” Also present during the program are Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya and Office of the Civil Defense OIC-Director for Disaster Resilience, Jose Harry Barber.# Read More: https://www.upm.edu.ph/cpt_news/upm-signs-mou-with-marsu-igniting-co-creation-on-drrm/ https://www.upm.edu.ph/cpt_news/upm-signs-mou-with-marsu-igniting-co-creation-on-drrm/ #fp9 #DiscoveryandResearch #AccessibleUPLeadership