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 Archipelago—Malaya, Philippines and Indonesia—under 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 “the ASEAN way.”
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.