21/07/2026
𝗣𝗵 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The Philippines, through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), successfully hosted the 2nd ASEAN One Health Network (AOHN) Meeting from July 14-16, 2026, in Quezon City, convening representatives from ASEAN Member States, sectoral bodies, and international partners to strengthen regional collaboration on One Health.
As the incoming Chair of the AOHN Coordinating Committee for a one-year term, the Philippines led discussions on advancing coordinated action against emerging health threats.
In the three-day meeting, discussions were centered on key regional health initiatives, highlighted by the review of the ASEAN Regional Priority Pathogen List and the finalization of the implementation plan for the ASEAN Strategic Framework to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (ASF-AMR).
Participants engaged in strategic dialogues aimed at establishing regional strategies for priority zoonotic diseases and food safety, while also addressing the development of the ASEAN One Health Workforce and securing sustainable partnerships and funding. Updates on the ongoing development of the implementation of the ASEAN One Health Joint Plan of Action (AOHJPA), were also discussed, reinforcing collaborative efforts to mitigate cross-sectoral health threats across the region.
The meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening One Health policies through enhanced legislation, improved food safety surveillance, electronic traceability systems, biosecurity capacity building, and sustainable partnership to address cross-sectoral health challenges.
Representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reaffirmed their commitment to advancing One Health initiatives in the region.
The animal health sector, represented by the DA through BAI, likewise expressed its continued support for ASEAN One Health programs aimed at protecting human, animal, and environmental health.
The Philippines also expressed its appreciation to the ASEAN Secretariat for its continued support in fostering collaboration among ASEAN Member States. # # #