MAKATI CITY, Philippines — In a significant step toward strengthening resilience and sustainability by integrating human, animal, and environmental health systems, 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 March 26–27, 2026.
ASEACA is designed to mitigate existing threats and proactively prevent future crises by focusing on risk assessment, risk reduction, community-based surveillance, and capacity building. The program is part of the PREventing Zoonotic Disease Emergence (PREZODE) initiative, which aims to strengthen research capacity and foster international, multisectoral collaboration.
The kick-off meeting brought together key players in One Health efforts from pilot sites in Pampanga and Bukidnon. Representatives from 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.
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, emphasized that agricultural growth enhances resilience and prevents zoonotic spillovers, both of which are vital for sustainable food systems.
She encouraged 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 an overview of PREZODE and ASEACA, while key initiatives in Bukidnon and Pampanga were highlighted. The dialogue, moderated by Dr. Flavie Goutard of CIRAD and Dr. Rico Ancog, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration, underscored the importance of collaboration in achieving a holistic strategy for health security.
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 role 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.