Press Releases

Makati City, Philippines – The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) convened for an exclusive Luncheon Meeting with the Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on October 23, 2025 at Makati Diamond Residences in Makati City. The event provided a platform for discussion on the Philippines’ defense, security, and resilience priorities amid evolving geopolitical challenges and economic growth.

Held at a pivotal time as the Philippines prepares to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, the luncheon brought together senior government officials, European business leaders, defense and technology partners, and industry stakeholders to explore concrete avenues for collaboration in advancing national defense and regional stability.

ECCP Executive Director Florian Gottein delivered the Welcome Remarks for the luncheon meeting. “As the country prepares to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, we recognize the importance of dialogue and collaboration in building a strong, resilient, and future-ready nation”, Gottein noted.

H.E. Massimo Santoro, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, delivered an opening message emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation between the European Union and the Philippines in fostering peace, stability, and sustainable development. He noted, “Across the world, the global security environment has become increasingly complex. Both Europe and the Indo-Pacific are navigating a period of profound transformation, in which traditional notions are being redefined by new realities and interlinked challenges.”

Ambassador Santoro further expressed his optimism, stating, “I am very confident that the Europe-Philippine security partnership will continue to deepen, driven by trust, shared values, and common problems. We will keep working together to promote an open and secure Indo-Pacific, to strengthen maritime governance, and to ensure that peace and prosperity remain within reach for all while adhering to the rules-based international order.”

In his keynote address, Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. emphasized the need to strengthen the country’s understanding and preparedness in addressing both internal and external security challenges. He stated, “We have failed to capture the extent of foreign influence in our internal environment. Thus it has compromised our external defense.”

He further underscored the consequences of limited capacity and awareness, noting, “We have long been victimized for lack of knowledge, for lack of skill sets required to negotiate properly by what we thought we needed and what was available, but at the end of the day we did not perform as required.”

Secretary Teodoro shared that the Department of National Defense (DND) is raising its standards and placing greater emphasis on proven track records, particularly assessing how defense producers have performed in the past. By doing so, the DND aims to elevate the country’s position in the global defense value chain, fostering growth and innovation within the local industry. Central to this effort is the goal of strengthening national defense capabilities through deterrence, investing in sophisticated equipment and advanced technologies that enhance the nation’s security posture. Ultimately, the DND seeks to build mutual resilience — both domestically and internationally —to ensure a robust and resilient  defense framework.

A panel discussion followed the keynote address of Secretary Teodoro. The discussions delved into the DND’s current disaster resilience measures and ongoing public-private partnerships to support a  cohesive national defense strategy.

At the conclusion of the ECCP luncheon meeting, European and Filipino industry leaders reaffirmed their support for the Philippines’ defense modernization, highlighting their readiness to contribute through technology sharing, sustainable investments, and strategic joint ventures that align with national and regional security objectives. The gathering underscored the importance of continued collaboration and dialogue in strengthening the country’s defense capabilities and fostering a resilient defense landscape.

The ECCP Luncheon Meeting with the Department of National Defense is organized with the support of Dole Philippines, Inc. (Event Supporter), Airbus Helicopters Philippines, Inc. (Event Patron), Saab Philippines (Table Top Partner), Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (Table Top Partner).

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