As chairperson of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Cluster (ASCC) this year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will lead the ASCC Pillar launch of the Philippines ASEAN 2017 chairmanship at the Marquee Mall, Angeles City, Pampanga on January 24, 2017.

The ASCC Pillar is one of the three Community Councils within ASEAN which is focused on nurturing the human, cultural and natural resources for sustained development in a harmonious and people-oriented ASEAN.

The ASCC Blueprint represents the human dimension of ASEAN cooperation and upholds ASEAN commitment to address the region’s aspiration to lift the quality of life of its peoples. The goals of the ASCC are envisaged to be achieved by implementing concrete and productive actions that are people-centered and socially responsible.

DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo emphasized, “As the Philippines chairs ASEAN, the goal is to make it a more people-oriented, people- centered institution. We want to make the ASEAN an institution that is more responsive to the needs of vulnerable sectors, such as senior citizens, children and youth, disadvantaged women and persons with disabilities.”

As chair of the ASCC aims to help realize the ASEAN objective and eventually foster greater solidarity and unity among people’s and Member States of the ASEAN.

A people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN is among the six priorities of ASEAN 2017 which carries the theme, “Partnering for change, engaging the world”.

To help achieve this goal, the Philippines intend to:

• Ensure promotion and protection of the rights of migrant workers;

• Ensure promotion and protection of the rights of the vulnerable sectors – women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, internally displaced persons, indigenous peoples, among others;

• Further promote appreciation of cultural heritage and strengthening the ASEAN cultural identity;

• Intensify access to healthcare and improved nutrition; and,

• Promote the role of the civil service as catalyst for achieving ASEAN Vision 2025.

As chair of the ASCC, the DSWD will also host the following meetings:

• 22nd Senior Officials Committee for the ASCC (SOCA) and 17th ASCC Council Meeting, 6-9 March, Iloilo
• High Level Meeting on ASEAN Active Ageing: Presentation of Results of the Study, 21 May, Metro Manila
• Cross-Regional Meeting on Violence against Children, June, Metro Manila
• ASEAN High Level Conference on Social Protection, 15-17 August, Metro Manila
• ASEAN Policy Dialogue on Children’s Rights, 30-31 August, Metro Manila
• 23rd SOCA and 18th ASCC Council Meeting, 11-14 September, Metro Manila

Sec. Taguiwalo will chair the 17th and 18th ASCC Council Meetings. It will be attended by the ministers/secretaries responsible for ASCC in the ASEAN Member States.

“Our interactions with our neighboring countries during this international event will give us opportunities to look into their best practices. We can use some of these practices to guide us as we craft new policies, programs, and services or improve our existing ones. We will do our best to ensure that the results of the ASEAN 2017 conference will result to tangible benefits for the Filipino people, particularly the poor and working sectors,” she concluded.” #