Danish Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin has urged the Philippines to invest in better infrastructure planning to strengthen protection against future threats.
Speaking at the Nordic Ambassadors’ Forum in Makati on 4 November, Mellbin argued that resilience must go beyond recovering after a crisis, according to the Danish Embassy’s account of his remarks.
He highlighted advance planning as a way to create more lasting protection, drawing on experiences from Denmark and the Nordic region.
NordCham Philippines organised the annual forum, bringing together Nordic ambassadors and members of the Nordic and Philippine business communities.
The discussions focused on total defence, an approach that involves government, businesses, communities and citizens in preparing for threats and keeping society functioning during crises.
Building trust before a crisis
Mellbin also highlighted public trust as part of a resilient society.
According to the embassy, he argued that cooperation can help build trust and reduce political polarisation. Schools can contribute to that process from an early age, while citizen participation can strengthen it further.
Artificial intelligence was another focus. Mellbin argued that the challenge increasingly concerns how effectively societies apply AI, alongside the development of the technology itself.
He pointed to roles for both government and businesses and suggested that the Philippines could draw on its pool of IT talent to support AI governance.
The Danish ambassador’s remarks complemented those of Norwegian Ambassador Kristian Netland, who highlighted businesses and maritime supply chains as preparedness partners.
ScandAsia previously reported on Netland’s remarks about businesses and seafarers at the same forum.
Sources: Embassy of Denmark in the Philippines, NordCham Philippines
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