The ASEAN Science Diplomats Assembly 2026 officially opened Monday at the Acacia Hotel in Muntinlupa City, bringing together science diplomats, ASEAN ambassadors, and regional leaders to discuss cooperation in science, technology, and sustainable development.
Celebrating its 10th founding anniversary this year, the assembly serves as a platform for ASEAN science diplomats to exchange knowledge, strengthen regional cooperation, and explore solutions to challenges in technology, climate, and sustainability.
Attendees at the opening ceremony included Mr. Glenn Banaguas, chairman and president of ASEAN Science Diplomats United Nations; Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum; and Rep. Brian Poe, majority member of the Committees on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Resilience.
In his message, Poe cited the Filipino tradition of Bayanihan as a model for regional cooperation.
“In the Philippines, we have a cultural tradition called Bayanihan—the communal unity of neighbors lifting a house together on their shoulders to move it to a safer foundation. In this complex era, we must practice a new kind of Bayanihan, lifting our region’s digital and environmental architecture together so that innovation fosters inclusion, not division,” he said.
The FPJ Panday Bayanihan party-list lawmaker said innovation should be measured by its impact on people’s lives rather than by technological achievements alone.
“As we open this assembly, let us remember that the true measure of our innovation is not in terabytes of data or the volume of our research. It is measured by how many lives we improve, empower, and uplift. The digital age and climate crisis demand speed and scale, but the human spirit demands a soul,” he added.
Solidum highlighted the Philippines’ role in advancing disaster and climate resilience research.
“One of our advantages is our innovations in disaster and climate resilience because the Philippines is a natural laboratory for natural hazards and climate change,” Solidum said.
Banaguas stressed the importance of evidence-based policymaking in addressing challenges facing the ASEAN region.
“It is important to be science-based in crafting policies and solutions for the future of the ASEAN region,” Banaguas said.
