MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Disaster Risk Management (APPGM-DRM), led by its Overall Chairman, Hon. Congressman Ir. Ts. Zahir bin Hassan, and key parliamentary leaders including Hon. Senator Isaiah a/l D. Jacob, along with distinguished Malaysian Congressmen, the Secretariat, the academe, the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and UNICEF Malaysia, has engaged world-renowned Filipino science diplomat and multi-awarded scientist Sci. Dpl. Glenn Banaguas to provide expert guidance for the crafting of Malaysia’s forthcoming national disaster risk management and climate legislation.
As a strategic partner of APPGM-DRM in implementing this international benchmarking activity, Sci. Dpl. Banaguas spearheaded a multi-sectoral mission in Manila. Through his leadership, the delegation engaged key Philippine institutions across government, legislature, finance, academia, and civil society to showcase best practices in disaster risk reduction and climate governance.
The comprehensive benchmarking program featured briefings and presentations from prominent Philippine organizations, including the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), DOST-PAGASA, the House of Representatives, represented by Hon. Representative Brian Poe Llamanzares, the Office of Civil Defense–National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC-OCD), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI), the Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP), the Manila Observatory, the Clark Development Corporation, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), ARISE Philippines, the Environmental and Climate Change Research Institute (ECCRI), and UNICEF Philippines. The mission also featured a visit to the Embassy of Malaysia in Manila.
During the session, Banaguas presented the flagship Climate Smart Philippines: Science for Service program. Established in 2010 under ECCRI, this initiative utilizes a science diplomacy framework to translate complex climate research into actionable public policy. The program has earned global accolades, including the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award.
Banaguas, who serves as Chairman of the ASEAN Science Diplomats, outlined the strategic roadmap of the ASEAN Science Diplomacy Plan of Action, focusing on climate and disaster diplomacy. The framework provides a practical blueprint for integrating evidence-based risk assessments, regional scientific consensus, impact assessments, and multi-stakeholder governance directly into national policymaking.
“Malaysia’s disaster law must be firmly grounded in science and robust empirical evidence so that it truly addresses the real-world needs of its people,” emphasized Sci. Dpl. Banaguas. “By establishing an evidence-driven framework that directly protects vulnerable communities, these strategies can serve as a proven model to be replicated across other ASEAN Member States. Hosting this exchange reaffirmed the transformative potential of science diplomacy, as bridging regional research with legislative action ensures our laws are equipped to protect communities across borders.”
“We intentionally chose the Philippines for this benchmark mission because of its established, progressive legislative frameworks that directly address disaster risk reduction and climate change,” stated Hon. Congressman Ir. Ts. Zahir bin Hassan. “Through this collaboration, we aim to integrate these science-backed strategies into Malaysia’s own disaster legislation to ensure our laws are resilient, evidence-driven, and responsive to the needs of our people.”
This historic exchange marks a vital step forward in institutionalizing Malaysia’s disaster risk reduction framework, demonstrating how Philippine science diplomacy can directly shape national legislation, elevate regional policy standards, and build long-term disaster resilience across the entire ASEAN community.
