Wellington – Philippine Ambassador Kira Christianne D. Azucena, delivered a lecture on "Disaster Risk Reduction and Management: ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)" to 47 scholars under the New Zealand English Language Training for Officials (NZELTO) Programme at Victoria University of Wellington on 09 July 2026.

The lecture brought together government officials from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam. In her presentation, Ambassador Azucen provided them with an overview of the evolving regional architecture for disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Ambassador Azucena underscored the shared vulnerabilities of both regions and emphasized the value of exchanging best practices, enhancing institutional partnerships, and promoting people-centered and climate-resilient approaches to disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience. She highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in addressing the increasing impacts of natural disasters and climate change.

The lecture concluded with a question-and-answer session, during which participants raised questions and exchanged ideas on the topics presented. The scholars expressed their appreciation for Ambassador Azucena's lecture and gained valuable insights into the importance of regional cooperation, disaster risk reduction and management, and climate resilience in addressing shared challenges across ASEAN and the Pacific. END