DAVAO CITY (November 4) — The Department of National Defense (DND) said the newly formed Task Force Philippines, created in partnership with the United States, will strengthen the country’s disaster response — especially in Mindanao, which is frequently hit by typhoons, floods, and earthquakes.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the task force will serve as a coordination mechanism between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the US Indo-Pacific Command to ensure faster response and aid delivery during emergencies.
“The task force has a specific mission — to converge with our resilience both internally and externally. It is an efficiency mechanism to funnel all the activities for immediate and quick response to calamities,” Teodoro said in a briefing Sunday.
The new task force was formalized after Teodoro’s meeting with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the 2025 ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Teodoro said the partnership falls under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the US and will involve the AFP’s Strategic Command to align disaster preparedness and humanitarian operations.
Aside from boosting disaster readiness, both sides also discussed regional security concerns, including China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea.
Officials said the initiative aims to help build safer, more resilient communities across Mindanao and the rest of the country.
