Philippine president calls for joint efforts to cope with "disruptions"

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III Wednesday urged the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member-economies and businesses to join hands in coping with all "disruptions," including natural disasters.

In his speech to open the 2015 APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) dialogue with leaders, Aquino said there is a need to innovate in order for businesses and governments in member-economies to adapt to disruptions which could either be beneficial or detrimental.

Some of the disruptions, he said, are natural disasters, significant shifts in the global economy and innovative products and services which push other companies to evolve.

He said, "There is also disruption in a positive sense, where a few innovative companies broaden our technological frontiers, dramatically alter the market, and thus push all other firms to adjust to the new norm."

"Confronted by an increasingly complex, interconnected, and unpredictable world, we are all challenged to look at trends that may cause disruption, so that we can act with resilience and craft a response with inclusivity at its core, ensuring no one is left behind," Aquino said. Enditem