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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Friday, March 10, 2017
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ILOILO City – At the opening of the 17th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting on March 8, the Philippines’ Social Welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo expressed hope that two key outcome documents will come to fusion in time for the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit expected to be held in late April.
Under the priority agendum of a people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN, the two documents are:
* the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on the Role of the Civil Service as a Catalyst for Achieving the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and
* the ASEAN Instrument to Implement the ASEAN Declaration for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights Migrant Workers.
According to Taguiwalo, the first document highlights the role of the civil service as catalyst for achieving the ASEAN Vision 2025 and building an ASEAN community presenting an opportunity for strengthening the collaboration and cooperation among sectors and advancing regional integration.
Through this, the Secretary said they wish to “document the importance of ensuring the professionalization of our civil service so that they serve as key implementors of the different policies and programs, to encourage cross fertilization, collaboration as well as exchanges among our civil service personnel.”
Regarding the second document, Taguiwalo stressed that in the last 10 years, the Philippines has been actively supporting the drafting and eventual approval of an ASEAN instrument that promotes and protects the rights of migrant workers, and which adheres to the respect for, the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“I am extremely hopeful that soon, the discussion, the instrument on migrant workers, will conclude in a more positive note,” said Taguiwalo.
“We want to have an instrument, essentially the implementing rules and regulations that will spell out how this can be done within the ASEAN” she stressed.
OTHER DOCUMENTS
For the Philippine’s chairpersonship under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, Taguiwalo disclosed they have other outcome documents that will benefit the vulnerable sectors.
The documents they intend to endorse to the ASEAN Leaders in the 31st Summit in November are:
* ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on the Gender-Responsive Implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and Sustainable Development Goals
* ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Ending all Forms of Malnutrition
* ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration of Commitment on Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR): Combating AMR through One Health Approach, and
* ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Youth Development.
“These documents are intended to influence policy and program development in ASEAN member states. These are aligned with the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025,” said Taguiwalo.
Particular on the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on the Gender-Responsive Implementation, Taguiwalo said this aims to ensure that economic, cultural and social policies of the ASEAN have a gender perspective.
Meantime, the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Ending all Forms of Malnutrition will further emphasize the need to address malnutrition among children.
“We know that while there are advances in addressing poverty, stunted growth remains high in the Philippines,” said Taguiwalo./PN
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