Aquino expects ASEAN to come up with concrete steps in its regional problems
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III said that he expects the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to come up with more “concrete steps” in dealing with the problems of the region at the conclusion of the 17th ASEAN Summit this Saturday (October 30).
"As we can gather from this year's ASEAN theme: “Towards the ASEAN community: From Vision to Action,” there are so many problems that affect the entire region like global warming and the issue of piracy. So many issues that really affect not only one state but in effect the entire state," the President said in a statement he delivered after meeting with the reporters at the Grand Plaza here on Wednesday.
"Even the growth of our economy is so dependent on acting in unison and in concert with those who are our closest neighbors so we expect that there will be more concrete steps towards harmonizing and really unifying the entire ASEAN region to act as one in addressing the problems that we all face," he added.
President Aquino and the other nine ASEAN leaders are in Hanoi, Vietnam attending the 17th ASEAN Summit from Oct. 28 to 30.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said major topics at the meeting include accelerating ASEAN Community building process, implementing the ASEAN Charter, broadening ASEAN cooperation with dialogue partners and strengthening cooperation to respond to global challenges.
The ASEAN aims to establish an ASEAN Community by 2015. As the deadline approaches, ASEAN countries are stepping up efforts in the integration process of the ASEAN region, which had a total population of 584 million and a combined GDP of $1.5 trillion. (PCOO)
RP, Thailand hold bilateral talks
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): The Philippines and Thailand held bilateral talks prior to the formal opening of the 17th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the National Convention Center on Thursday.
In an interview, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said President Benigno S. Aquino III and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva discussed increasing trade and close ties between their countries by undertaking joint investment programs in the automotive and energy sectors.
“That’s why we are going to have a joint committee meeting sometime this year precisely to look at all those areas where the trade and investment would be encouraged from the Philippine, Thailand and ASEAN sides,” Romulo said.
Aside from Romulo also present at the talks were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Presidential Management Staff chief Julia Abad and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang.
In a separate interview, Carandang said the two leaders also discussed concerns on the strengthening of their respective currencies.
Carandang said Prime Minister Abhisit and President Aquino agreed that “central bankers and finance ministers” from both countries ás well as from ASEAN should meet more frequently to come up with common positions on how to deal with their strengthening currencies.
“We all recognize and the President pointed out that our currencies are strong because of the weakness of the US dollar. So, to some extent, these are global factors affecting currencies, but nevertheless the two leaders agreed that there should be more frequent contact between central bankers and finance ministers of the two countries and ASEAN so we can coordinate more closely our actions because of the strong currencies that we are seeing right now which could have an impact on exports,” he said.
Carandang said the two leaders updated themselves on domestic matters and exchanged situationers about what was happening in their respective countries.
He said that the two leaders also touched on the need for closer coordination with disaster risk management experts to improve response in times of crisis “and reiterate our call to Myanmar.”
“We (Philippines and Thailand) both expressed the same concern that Myanmar should move more rapidly on íts roadmap to democracy,” Carandang said. (PCOO)
Aquino names Villacorta permanent ASEAN envoy
HANOI (via PLDT-SMART): President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed Dr. Wilfrido Villacorta as the Philippines’ permanent representative to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Villacorta replaces Ambassador Orlando Mercado.
The Chief Executive made the announcement (Wednesday night) on the eve of the opening Thursday of the 17th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at the National Convention Center here.
Villacorta is a former Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN. He is Professor Emeritus of De La Salle University, and a Member-Commissioner of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines.
Dr Villacorta was the Founding President of the Yuchengco Center from 1994 to May 2003. He was Full Professor, Dean and Senior Vice-President at De La Salle University and a delegate to the 1986 Constitutional Commission, which drafted the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
He sponsored the constitutional provisions on education, science and culture, the rights of children and the right to public information, and co-sponsored the provisions on social justice and human rights, the equality of women and men and the ban on nuclear weapons.
As stipulated in Article 12 of the ASEAN Charter, each ASEAN Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to ASEAN with the rank of Ambassador based in Jakarta.
The Permanent Representatives collectively constitute a Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), which shall support the work of the ASEAN Community Councils and ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies; coordinate with ASEAN National Secretariats and other ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies; liaise with the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat on all subjects relevant to its work; facilitate ASEAN cooperation with external partners; and perform such other functions as may be determined by the ASEAN Coordinating Council. (PCOO)
Retreat session marks start of 17th ASEAN Summit
HANOI (via PLDT-SMART): The 17th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit formally opened Thursday with leaders of member countries holding a retreat session to discuss measures on how to deepen comprehensive cooperation and maintain peace and stability in the region.
President Benigno S. Aquino III joined other ASEAN leaders at the National Convention Center here to discuss issues of common concern foremost of which are measures on building the ASEAN Community, strengthening regional connectivity and effectively implementing the ASEAN Charter.
The ASEAN leaders are expected to debate and reach agreements on important decisions to beef up and elevate relations with partners to a new level.
The leaders will also discuss measures on how to implement decisions made at the 16th Summit.
The leaders are likewise expected to approve two important documents, including a declaration on human resource development and skills needed for economic recovery and sustainable development, and the Hanoi declaration on increasing social welfare and women and children's development.
The ASEAN and its partners will adopt a number of other important documents such as the ASEAN-China statement on sustainable development, the action program for the ASEAN-Republic of Korea strategic partnership, the ASEAN-India co-operation program in the new period and joint statements with Russia, New Zealand and the UN.
The leaders will also focus on building the community and regional connectivity while creating conditions for more active involvement and contributions of partners in addressing regional issues. (PCOO)
Memorandum from the Executive Secretary
TO : ALL DEPARTMENT SECRETARIES, HEADS OF AGENCIES AND OFFICES IN THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
RE : EMPLOYEES COVERED BY MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2, SERIES 2010
DATE: October 28, 2010
____________________________________________________________
Pursuant to Memorandum No. 2 (MC 2), series 2010 and in the exigency of the service and to ensure continuity of government operations, official processes and transactions as well as the delivery of services to the people, you are hereby directed to immediately submit to the President, through the Executive Secretary, the remaining recommendees for possible appointment or reappointment by the President to Career Executive Service (CES) positions currently occupied by non-CES Officers or to Heads of Offices and Agencies. With respect to CES positions, you are enjoined to select your recommendees from the following, in the order given:
1. Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs);
2. Career Executive Service Eligibles (CESEs);
3. Those who already passed the written examination (MAT-B) but have yet to complete the other stages of CES eligibility process;
4. Those who have been validly conferred by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Career Executive Service Eligibility (CESE) and Career Executive Officers Eligibility (CEOE), but have yet to complete the other stages of the CES eligibility process;
5. Those who have applied for the written examination (MAT-B) scheduled on October 30, 2010; and
6. Incumbents who have not yet applied for CES examinations or have failed the same.
For you guidance and strict compliance.
PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary
