Why is it important for the country to take an
active part in the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?
In the first place, we were part of efforts in the
early 1960s to unite the three countries in the Malay ArchipelagoโMalaya, Philippines and Indonesiaโunder
a nonpolitical confederation.
While Maphilindo was short-lived, it led to the
establishment later on of ASEAN, which now consists
of 10 countries, with Timor-Leste set to be admitted as
the 11th member.
ASEAN is a political and economic union
which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, educational and
sociocultural integration between its members and
countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Its primary objective is to accelerate economic growth by loosening restrictions on goods, services
and capital within the region.
Another is to promote regional peace and stability based on the rule of law and the principles of the
UN Charter. The regional bloc resolves issues and concerns through consensus, or what it calls โthe ASEAN
way.โ
In our recent participation in the 42nd ASEAN
Summit in Indonesia last week, President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. articulated the Philippine position on key issues.
We stressed the need to transition to renewable and alternative energy technologies and called for
enhancing regional cooperation to ensure a cleaner energy future.
Apart from this, we emphasized the importance
of inter-parliamentary cooperation in tackling shared
challenges such as climate change, transnational threats
and upholding rules-based international order anchored
on international law.
We pointed out the need to prioritize food
self-sufficiency and security through innovative solutions
to attain overall human security.
We likewise urged the Summit participants to
take decisive and responsive action on geo-political
issues in the region, and to commit to the implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the
South China Sea and early conclusion of an effective
and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China
Sea.
Likewise, we reaffirmed our commitment to
work with the private sector to empower micro, small
and medium enterprises and farmers through knowledge and technology transfer.
The President also held bilateral meetings with the prime ministers of Vietnam and Laos to
strengthen cooperation and expand partnerships on
health, education, trade, agriculture, tourism and people-to-people exchange.
All in all, the two-day ASEAN Summit gave
the Philippines ample opportunity to tell them that we
highly value our participation in the regional bloc, that
we are willing to work together with them in resolving
economic and security concerns, and that we also want
to seek consensus on issues that stand in the way of
peace and stability in the region.
