THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be signing the “Asean Declaration on the Roles of the Civil Service as a Catalyst for Achieving the Asean Community Vision 2025” as an outcome document of the 30th Asean Summit in Manila.
The document will emphasize the role of civil servants and government employees in all Asean states in creating an Asean Community, and it will be signed today, April 29, as the leaders of the 10-nation regional bloc gather in Manila for the regional summit.
In other developments:
• The chairman of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor on Friday reminded the Asean delegates of the continuing challenge presented by the more than 80-million urban poor in the Philippines under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“As the Philippines hosts the 2017 Asean Summit, we are reminded of the continuing challenges of urban poverty for the more than 80 million urban slum population of Southeast Asia,” Terry Ridon, PCUP chairman, said in a statement during the 2017 Asean Summit held in Manila.
* Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly drug war is part of a worrying assault on human rights and democracy across Southeast Asia, activists said as regional leaders gathered in Manila on Friday.
Duterte has been condemned in the West for the crackdown, which has claimed thousands of lives since he took power last year, but he is expected to enjoy the support of most of his guests as he hosts the heads of the 10-member Asean.
This is partly because the leaders of most other countries in the region have few democratic credentials themselves, or have human rights clouds hanging over them, according to Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia division.
* Former President Fidel V. Ramos said it was now the right time for the member nations of the Asean to cut the proverbial umbilical cord from the United States and instead take the lead in maintaining peace, order,and stability in the region.
“The Asean is a big region and should take up responsibilities for providing peace, law and order and especially stability in the bigger region of the Asia Pacific,” Ramos said.
This will be the first time Duterte will play host as Asean chairman, with the Philippines adopting the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World” to illustrate its vision of an Asean Community that is dynamic, vibrant and prosperous for all and acting in unity within and with its global partners.
“Five decades of cooperation and integration have made Asean one of the most successful regional organizations in the world,” said Le Luong Minh, secretary-general of Asean, about his perspective on the core achievement of the Asean.
“Asean works together cognisant of, and leveraging on, its diversity and collective potentials to pursue a shared vision and common aspirations. This represents Asean’s unique strength.”
This will be the first of two Asean Summits in this milestone year as Asean celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Duterte will preside over the opening ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center and the Leaders’ Retreat at the nearby Coconut Palace.
During the summit, the leaders will be discussing the implementation of the Asean Community Vision 2025 and the way forward, external relations and future directions. With Sandy Araneta, AFP and Vito Barcelo