By Kris M. Crismundo
DAVAO CITY—The country will be hosting more than 100 meetings for this year’s Asean Summit, an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs said during the 2017 Presidential Communications Operations Office Roadshow at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Saturday.
DFA Office of Asean Affairs Assistant Secretary Ma. Helen de la Vega said that the meetings would be composed of two leaders-level summits to be attended by the heads of states of the 10 Asean member-nations and dialogue partners; 15 ministerial meetings; 31 senior officials meetings; and more than 60 working group meetings.
Twelve areas nationwide were also identified as locations for these regional meetings including Metro Manila, Laoag, Pampanga, Legazpi, and Palawan in Luzon; Boracay, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Bohol in Visayas; and Cagayan de Oro and Davao in Mindanao.
On Sunday, Jan. 15, President Rodrigo Duterte will lead the launching of the Philippines’ chairmanship of Asean here in Davao City with the theme of “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.”
The country’s chairmanship for the summit also coincides with the 50th year anniversary of Asean.
Moreover, the government will launch commemorative coins and stamps for Philippine chairmanship of Asean which will be made available nationwide.
The “Asean Spirit,” the theme song for the country’s Asean chairmanship, will likewise be launched in the same event.
Other commemorative activities for this year are nationwide celebration of Asean Day, Asean Youth Entrepreneurship Award, Asean Biodiversity Heroes, book publication on “The Philippines in Asean: 50 Years of Engaging the Region”, Asean Women Entrepreneurship Forum, and tribute to Asean Founding Fathers.
A coffeetable book on Philippine chairmanship of 2017 Asean Summit will be launched by February 2018.
The government aims to further increase the knowledge of Filipinos about Asean integration through dissemination of information throughout the country.
The Asean Community was formally established on Dec. 31, 2015 with three pillars such as Asean Political-Security Community, to enhance rules and good governance for the region; Asean Economic Community, to enhance integration and competitiveness of the region’s economy; and Socio-Cultural Community, to enhance well-being and livelihood of Asean people.