PRESS RELEASE

Philippine Embassy, Canberra

1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
www.philembassy.org.au    *Tel. No. 02-6273-2535*

11 November 2025, CANBERRA – Ambassador Antonio Morales welcomed a delegation from the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) during their study visit to Australia on 10–14 November 2025. The visit forms part of the continuing cooperation between the NCDA and Australia’s Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care (DHDA) under the Southeast Asia Government-to-Government (SEAG2G) program, which supports knowledge exchange and technical collaboration toward the development of the Philippines’ own National Disability Strategy.

The delegation was led by NCDA Executive Director Glenda Relova, and included Regional Programs Coordinator Randy Calena; OIC-Legislative Liaison Officer and NCDA Spokesperson Atty. Walter Jason Alava; Department of Health Senior Health Program Officer for Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Maria Cristina Raymundo; and Department of Development Assistant Director Edgardo Aranjuez.

Throughout the study tour, the delegation met with officials from the DHDA and participated in workshops alongside civil society representatives. Discussions explored the complementary roles of government and civil society, collaborative approaches, policy development, outreach to regional and remote communities, and the importance of intersectionality in disability inclusion.

The SEAG2G is a 5-year initiative by the Australian Government to deepen institutional partnerships between Australia and Southeast Asia across climate change and energy transition, education and skills, sustainable agriculture and food security, and effective and inclusive public institutions. - END