ASEAN meet focuses on social challenges

ILOILO CITY — Two socio-cultural challenges will be addressed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

This was highlighted by Undersecretary Flor Villar of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on the opening day of the 22nd senior officials committee meeting for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community or ASCC.

“I would like to underscore two priorities, which concerns the ASCC pillars: a people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN and ASEAN’s resiliency,” Villar said in his address to representatives from the ASEAN countries at the Iloilo Convention Center Monday.

Villar said the meeting that wraps up on March 7 will get updates on the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on the establishment of an ASEAN instrument to implement the grouping’s declaration for the protection and promotion of migrant workers’ rights.

The meeting will also get updates on the ASEAN Leader’s Declaration on the Role of Civil Service as Catalyst for Achieving ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

Villar also mentioned the commemorative activities lined up starting June 2017.

This includes the ASEAN High Level Conference on Social Protection, Cross Regional Meeting for Advancing the Protection of Children from Violence, ASEAN Conference on Nutrition and Breastfeeding, and Traditional Medicine Conference.