During the 37th ASEAN Summit, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivered his Philippine address on November 12, 2020
COVID-19 Pandemic
PRRD said that COVID-19 was the defining challenge of our generation. People strove for the balance of saving lives and keeping our economies afloat. He aims for a comprehensive recovery to build back better, healthier, and more prosperous societies. He added that deeper engagement on vital issues is what binds the ASEAN Community together.
He expounded that health security is his immediate priority. Thus, health systems must be strengthened to ensure unimpeded supply of medical supplies and technologies, and enhance early warning systems for health emergencies.
PRRD asked to fast track the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies, and the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.
Economic Front
PRRD said that regional integration must be deepened while strengthening the supply chain connectivity. Thus, he welcomed the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. And to ensure that growth is enjoyed by all, he encouraged everyone to forge ahead with sub-regional arrangements to bridge the development gaps within the region.
He said that people-centric actions are needed to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. With massive displacement of workers, he is compelled to upskill and reskill the labor force alongside the rapidly evolving labor market.
PRRD expressed that he welcomes support for the Philippines’ inaugural Chairmanship of the ASEAN Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council. He assured that partnerships will be built to further implement the Roadmap of the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development for the Changing World of Work.
He also mentioned the need to address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women, migrant workers, and other vulnerable sectors, which calls for the adoption of gender-responsive measures and strengthened social protection systems.
Typhoons and Climate Change
PRRD shared the country’s fate from the series of typhoons that have been crossing the country. He shared that with timely disaster preparedness measures, many lives were saved, but a trail of destruction in infrastructure and property was left behind, which hinders his development agenda in the affected regions. Thus, he urged for a collective action to combat the effects of climate change and further enhance cooperation on disaster risk reduction management to reinforce our capacities, both at the national and regional levels.
He called on developed countries to lead in deep and drastic cuts in carbon emissions, and that they must act now before it’s too late. He also appealed for their commitment to finance and invest in innovative adaptation solutions in the developing countries to help them mutually achieve sustainable development.
ASEAN Centrality
PRRD stated that the current geopolitical landscape creates challenges to our claim of Centrality. In charting the Community’s post-2025 future, the ASEAN’s position must be consolidated in the evolving regional order. He expounded further that peace and stability can only be ensured by an open and inclusive order, where ASEAN remains the fulcrum of regional security processes and mechanisms.
He said that the region must work together to achieve ASEAN Centrality. Each country’s credibility must be enhanced to engage all regional stakeholders with vision and strategic coherence. For this to happen, he reiterated the importance of being united to achieve shared aspirations and solve common problems.
PRRD then brought up that the issue with the South China Sea is the ASEAN’s strategic challenge and asked them to act fast. He also shared that the Philippines’ position on the issue remains clear and firm and that disputes must be done in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS. He added that the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea is an authoritative interpretation of the application of UNCLOS and its significance cannot be ignored by any country.
He reaffirmed that the Philippines is one with ASEAN in transforming the South China Sea and is committed to the immediate conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the area.
PRRD closed his address by congratulating Vietnam for its adept and responsive chairmanship of ASEAN.
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