“We want to mainstream the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and make it an institution that ordinary citizens are familiar with. The agreements, projects and programs of the ASEAN should be explained to citizens of its Member-States so they can make use of them as they go about their daily lives as members of their respective societies. The ASEAN in the last 50 years has achieved and done so much, but much also still needs to be done to make all these contributions to the betterment of the people’s welfare be known to the people themselves. As chair of the ASEAN’s third pillar  — the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), this is one of our particular goals.”

This was the statement of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo and ASCC chair as she led today the launch of the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASCC in Clark, Pampanga.  Undersecretary Florita Villar is the senior official of the DSWD acting as the focal person for ASEAN’s Pillar 3.

The ASCC aims to help the ASEAN realize its goal of an ASEAN community that is people-oriented and socially responsible, with a view to establish solidarity and unity among the peoples and Member-States of the ASEAN.

Sec. Taguiwalo said that the secretariat chose Pampanga and Marquee Mall as the venue for the launch of the ASCC to bring it closer to ordinary Filipinos.

“The ASCC launch venue will be open to everyone, and everyone can also take part in this activity. The 31st ASEAN Summit in November will also be held in Clark, Pampanga, and we expect many local government units (LGUs) to participate in it,” she said.

“The aim of the ASEAN for 2017 is to make itself more people-oriented and more people-centered. The focus of ASEAN 2017 is the welfare and wellbeing of citizens of the ASEAN’s Member-States.  In the meantime, the other concerns are Peace and Stability in the Region, Maritime Security and Cooperation, Inclusive and Innovation-led Growth, ASEAN Resiliency, and how to make the ASEAN a model of regionalism and make it a global player.

“The Philippine agenda for the ASEAN is strongly based on the Duterte administration’s thrust to improve the provision of social services and opportunities for the Filipino people so they can improve their lot in life and develop resilience,” she said.

Included in the Philippines’ agenda in the ASEAN and the ASCC are the following:

1. Ensure promotion and protection of the rights of migrant workers by pushing for policies that will protect them across the ASEAN nations; and,
2. Ensure promotion and protection of the rights of the vulnerable sectors – women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, internally displaced persons, and indigenous peoples, among others.  Sec. Taguiwalo said that she will also push for the gender mainstreaming of all sectors of the ASCC.  “This is also a policy that should be adopted and implemented,” she said.
3. Further promote appreciation of cultural heritage and strengthening the ASEAN cultural identity;
4. Intensify access to healthcare and improved nutrition. “A sound body and mind enable us to work with vigor and pursue our passions in life and the advocacies we believe in. In a country where there is widespread poverty such as the Philippines, there is a continuing and always rising need to improve health services for the people. We also want to ensure that the health and nutrition needs of  children – particularly from the poorest and marginalized sectors are – monitored and addressed especially during their primary years,” she said.
5. Promote the role of the civil service as catalyst for achieving ASEAN Vision 2025.

“Civil servants as drivers for positive change will be further strengthened through coordination among ASEAN Member-States. We want to strengthen the government bureaucracy and make it more service-oriented. Our emphasis on professionalism is not only to improve the image of the government, but more so to make sure that civil servants are able to do their duties to help the citizenry with their need for information, services, and access to government instrumentalities,” she said.

When it comes to the goal to develop ASEAN Resiliency, Sec. Taguiwalo said that the ASEAN will give due importance to issues connected to climate change and the natural calamities/catastrophes it causes such as stronger typhoons, drought, and La Nina.

“To strengthen ASEAN’s resilience, in consideration of the intensity of natural and human-induced disasters that ASEAN is experiencing now, we will further ensure environmental protection. ASEAN covers more than 1.7 million square miles. Collaborative effort is needed to protect the rich flora and fauna of ASEAN. We will also carry out climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and mitigation (DRRM) related-activities. The new normal has consistently challenged ASEAN but we will not falter,” she said.

“Halimbawa na lamang, wala mang bagyo ay binaha ang ating mga kababayan sa Visayas at Mindanao. Nag-iiba ang panahon kaya’t kailangan din ng ibayong pagkakaisa. Tulong-tulong tayo, kasama ang mga kapatid natin sa ASEAN, alam natin na makakaya nating lagpasan ang mga hamong ito,” she said. #