Government gears up for Asean meetings

MANILA -- The Duterte administration has started preparations for the hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) Summits and related meetings this year.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the government would launch Asean 2017, with the theme “We are Partners for Change, Engaging the World,” at the Davao SMX Convention Center in Davao City next week.

“On January 15, all eyes will be on Davao City as we welcome our brothers and sisters in the Asean community,” Andanar said in a press conference.

The Philippines will chair the 30th Asean Summit in April and the 31st Asean Summit set for November in Clark, Pampanga.

Other activities to be held in the country are the 50th ministerial meeting and related meetings coinciding with Asean’s 50th anniversary celebration in August.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique Manalo said in the same press conference that around a hundred meetings would be held in selected cities.

Manalo said the administration would pursue the following thematic priorities: a people-oriented and peoplecentered Asean; regional peace and stability; maritime security and cooperation; inclusive innovation and growth; and Asean as a model of regionalism and global player.

He said the South China Sea dispute has been included in the agenda, although he stressed that the Hague ruling on the dispute would not be discussed because that was “already part of the law.”

He said the government will focus on coming up with a framework for the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea by the end of the year.

“All of this work will be consistent with the environment that we are now facing on the South China Sea, on how we can address the disputes, not only the Philippines but our other members of Asean as well,” he said.

Meanwhile, Andanar said the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), which he is supervising, would conduct roadshows and mount an information campaign about the Asean to increase awareness about the regional grouping.

“We plan to have roadshows all throughout the year. We will travel to different barangays all over the country. Asean representatives from PCO will deliver talks, conduct seminars and even distribute comics and other reading materials written in different Philippine dialects,” the President’s communication head said. (Sunnex)