MAKATI CITY, Philippines—In a significant initiative toward advancing a vision of resilience and sustainability by boosting the interconnected systems of human, animals, and environmental health, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) launched the Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean (ASEACA) program in the Philippines. The event was held at the New World Hotel in Makati on 26–27 March 2026.
ASEACA not only aims to mitigate existing threats but also to proactively prevent future crises by strategically focusing on risk assessment, risk reduction, community-based surveillance, and capacity building.
The project is part of the PREventing Zoonotic Disease Emergence (PREZODE) initiative, which was established to strengthen research capacity as well as international and multisectoral collaboration.
The kick-off meeting drew key players in One Health efforts from pilot sites in Pampanga and Bukidnon. Representatives from the government, including the Department of Health - Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH - RITM), the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST - PCAARRD), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) also attended the event.
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, asserted that agricultural growth enhances resilience and prevents zoonotic spillovers, both of which are vital for sustainable food systems.
Further, Sombilla encouraged the participants "to co create solutions with communities and stakeholders who live at the front lines of human, animal, and environmental health; co navigate the evolving and increasingly complex risk landscape with shared knowledge, scientific rigor, and cross sector partnership; and co transform systems, institutions, and communities toward a more resilient and sustainable future."
Dr. Daan Vink of CIRAD provided the participants with an overview of PREZODE and ASEACA. Key initiatives implemented in Bukidnon and Pampanga were also highlighted. The session evolved into an engaging exchange among participants, moderated by Dr. Flavie Goutard of CIRAD and Dr. Rico Ancog, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration.
One clear takeaway from the dialogue resonated with the attendees: to achieve a holistic strategy for healthy security, collaboration must be prioritized to drive tangible, lasting impact.
The outcomes of the kick-off meeting are expected to shape health policies and collaborative efforts to ensure a healthier future for all.
One Health reinforces SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia) and strengthens the Center's position as a regional leader in innovation-driven agricultural development. By integrating agriculture, health, and the environment, SEARCA promotes cohesive solutions that deliver lasting benefits for communities and economies across Southeast Asia.