Economic, rights issues top RP’s Asean list

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said that it will push four key areas in a ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) next week in Vietnam.

Also, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, the Philippines will be batting for the development of an Asean roll-on, roll-off (roro) network between neighboring countries in the region.

The four key areas are economic cooperation, disaster management, political and security cooperation and human rights.

In a statement, Romulo said that the Philippines will seek support from and will work together with Asean in “addressing national challenges under a new leadership.”

“The Philippine government will pursue the vision of President [Benigno] Aquino [3rd] as expressed in his inaugural speech, for the Philippines to be ‘a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities,’” he added.

The Foreign Affairs secretary said that President Aquino also stressed the important role that economic diplomacy will play in “creating jobs at home so that there will be no need to look for employment abroad” and in making the Philippines “a predictable and consistent place for investment.”

“The Philippines looks forward to seeking support from and working together with Asean and its dialogue partners in addressing national challenges to promote trade and investment, achieve international competitiveness and attain greater social equity and justice,” Romulo added.

He said that “tremendous opportunities” for the people of Asean are present to gain economic growth and prosperity because of the completion of several free trade areas (FTAs) with its partners such as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India.

“The FTAs provide access to an enlarged and efficient market for the Philippines to facilitate trade based on comparative advantage and lower costs. They can also open up employment opportunities for Filipinos through the services component, as well as needed revenue for the government through investments,” Romulo added.

Rights protection

Under the Aquino administration, Romulo said, the government is committed to strengthening mechanisms for promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country, within the Asean region and in the international community.

“As the country will endeavor to once again be the champion of human rights, the country will reiterate its offer to locate the Secretariat headquarters in Manila,” he added.

Romulo said that also one of the issues that will be raised in the ministerial meeting in Vietnam is the country’s disaster management since the Philippines and other Asean countries have gone through devastation and loss because of typhoons, earthquakes and other disasters.
Also, the connectivity between Asean nations will also be tackled.

“The Philippines believes that connectivity will spur economic growth and tourism, especially through the development of a nautical highway and the prioritization of high impact flagship projects until 2015 through close cooperation and support from the private sector,” Romulo said.

He added that the Philippines will push for the development of a roro network between neighboring Asean countries. The country’s roro system was established during the Arroyo administration.

The roro system uses roll-on, roll-off ships, which can easily receive and discharge vehicles at ports. This system allows buses and trucks to cross islands, which facilitates travel and commerce.

The 43rd Asean Ministerial Meeting, Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) and 17th Asean Regional Forum will be the first major international conference at the foreign minister’s level under the Aquino administration. Romulo will lead the Philippine delegation to the meetings to be held from July 19 to 23 in Hanoi.

Vietnam, the current chairman of Asean, has adopted the theme “Toward an Asean Community, From Vision to Action” for the meeting.

Asean also groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand. –Bernice Camille V. Bauzon, Reporter, manila Times