Sunday, 13 October 2013

PIA News Dispatch - Friday, October 11, 2013

ASEAN leaders agree on enhanced trade, investment

(BRUNEI DARUSSALAM) The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reiterated the need to enhance ASEAN’s competitiveness and to continue deepening its economic integration to meet its targets in 2015.

In a statement at the conclusion of the 23rd ASEAN Summit here, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei said the regional block is pleased with the continued robust performance of each country’s economy.

“Last year, ASEAN grew by 5.7 percent and was able to maintain its level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows at $108.2 billion as well as recorded $2.47 trillion in total merchandise trade. Against the backdrop of weaker global growth, regional growth is expected to moderate in the immediate term. Nonetheless, in the longer term, economic activities in the region are expected to remain robust,” Bolkiah said in a statement released Thursday.

ASEAN, Bolkiah said, was encouraged by the progress of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), where 279 measures (79.7 percent) of the AEC Blueprint have been implemented.

“Recognizing the challenges being faced in implementing the AEC, we further agreed to intensify our efforts in those areas under the AEC with high impact to ensure credible integration results by 2015,” he said in the statement.

In this regard, he said ASEAN welcomed the progress in trade and investment liberalization and facilitation initiatives in the region, such as the on-going work to streamline Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) and to address Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB) effects of NTMs through National level and Regional level Work Programmes on NTMs, efforts to deepen services integration through the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services, especially the 9th Package of Services commitments and the enhancement of the AFAS, as well as the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement.

The group also supported the development of effective rules and regulations, such as on competition policy and intellectual property rights, to foster a more competitive region.

At the same time, he said ASEAN remains committed to the facilitation of the movement of ASEAN nationals to complement trade and investment facilitation work.

It is also important to promote financial literacy among the region’s people and ASEAN welcomed the outcomes of the ASEAN Financial Literacy Conference held in Brunei Darussalam last September.

“We also intensified our efforts to build stronger integrated financial markets. We believe that robust capital markets are important to ensure financial stability, efficient allocation of capital, harness foreign capital inflows, and develop new investment vehicles in the region,” he said.

To enhance regional transport services, the ASEAN needs to strengthen intra-ASEAN maritime and shipping services, including the establishment of a task force to monitor and promote the implementation of the ASEAN Single Shipping Market and the progress of the ASEAN Single Aviation Market particularly on the development of a framework on Ramp Inspection, Aviation Security joint exercise and the ASEAN Regional Contingency Plan.

Also during the summit, leaders expressed their determination to continue enhancing ASEAN energy cooperation to address major energy challenges and thus, ensure a secure and reliable energy supply to the ASEAN region.

Ensuring regional food security is essential for ensuring broader security of the people in the region, Bolkiah said. He said leaders noted the on-going progress and achievement made in the implementation of the ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework and its Strategic Plan of Action 2009-2013.

“We supported the initiation of the work on developing the post-2015 vision, objectives and goals of the ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry sector towards 2020,” he said in the statement.

The regional grouping also realized the potential of SMEs to increase their contribution to the region’s economic development and to promote inclusive growth. In this regards, ASEAN leaders welcomed the revision of the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development 2010-2015 as part of rigorous efforts to align its work with the dynamic economic landscape and regional architecture, as well as the development of a draft Strategic Roadmap to enhance SMEs across the region.

The leaders also welcomed the progress on works aimed at integrating ASEAN into the global economy, particularly through the implementation of the ASEAN+1 FTAs, the on-going negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and preparations for the ASEAN-Hong Kong Free Trade Area negotiations.

President Benigno S. Aquino III joined fellow ASEAN leaders and other dialogue partners in the two-day ASEAN summit here. Immediately after the closing ceremonies, the President left for Manila Thursday evening. PND (as)


ASEAN leaders adopt Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children

(BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei Darussalam) President Benigno S. Aquino III and his Southeast Asian counterparts adopted on Thursday the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children in the region at the culmination of the 23rd Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit.

ASEAN leaders issued the said declaration bearing in mind the “need for a strengthened holistic and multidisciplinary approach that is responsive to gender and age as well as being sensitive to children,” Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei said in a statement.

“We noted that the Declaration, in recognition of the specific situations of women and children, particularly victims and survivors of violence, indicates the kind of support and services to be provided in ASEAN member states,” it added.

ASEAN leaders also adopted the Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection, which was among the advocacies of President Aquino during his participation in the two-day summit.

It aims to set out principles, strategies, and mechanisms in accordance with the domestic laws and policies of ASEAN member states in ensuring equitable access to services, social welfare and justice, as well as development of social services for all to bring about prosperity in the region. PND (hdc)


ASEAN leaders commit to addressing disasters, climate change during 23rd ASEAN Summit

(BRUNEI DARUSSALAM) The members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed for greater cooperation for disaster response and mitigation as well as addressing climate change.

In a concluding statement during the 23rd ASEAN Summit, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, the summit chair, said ASEAN leaders have encouraged cross-sectoral coordination and multi-stakeholder participation, including greater civil-military coordination in emergency response operations.

“We also supported the convening of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management and their coordination with the various relevant mechanisms related to disaster management in ASEAN to synchronize their activities and policies using the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response as the common platform for disaster management. In this regard, we adopted the ASEAN Declaration on Enhancing Cooperation in Disaster Management,” he in the statement said.

At the same time, he said leaders encouraged the effective implementation of the ASEAN Action Plan on Joint Response to Climate Change, with particular attention to vulnerable groups in adaptation efforts.

These include moves to preserve and manage the use of water resources, and ASEAN’s efforts to continue effectively implementing the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan on Water Resource Management.

“We recognized the importance of preserving and managing water resources for sustainable development. In this regard, we welcomed the Chiang Mai Declaration by the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in May 2013, which reiterated the importance of water as an essential part of human life and the environment as well as human security and the economy. As such, we acknowledged that water is an issue affecting all three pillars of the future ASEAN Community,” Bolkiah said in the statement.

To combat air pollution, the ASEAN welcomed the adoption of the recommendation of the 14th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment for an ASEAN Sub-Regional Haze Monitoring System, as a joint haze monitoring system among Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution countries.

The regional block noted the outcomes of the trilateral meeting on transboundary haze between the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore at the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Hua Hin on August 14, 2013.

“We also welcomed Indonesia’s commitment to the ratification of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and looked forward to Indonesia’s ratification of the Agreement at the earliest time,” the summit chair said in the statement.

On the group’s initiative to fight poverty, Bolkiah said they welcomed the outcomes of the 8th ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in July 2013 including the acknowledgment of the importance of participatory approaches involving our communities, village leaders, civil society, grassroots organizations, and volunteers.

ASEAN also reiterated the importance of job creation and strengthening of human resource development and acknowledged the importance of education cooperation to improve regional productivity and prosperity.

ASEAN leaders concluded their two-day discussions Thursday. President Benigno S. Aquino III joined fellow leaders in the ASEAN during the two-day event starting October 9 and 10, 2013 here in Bandar Seri Begawan. PND (as)


President Aquino back from APEC and ASEAN Summits

President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived in Manila Thursday night after attending the 21st Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the 23rd Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summits held in Bali, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, respectively from October 6 to 10, 2013.

The Pesident's chartered Philippine Air Lines flight PR001 landed at the tarmac of the Ninoy Aquino Intrrnational Airport Terminal 2 at around 8:30 p.m. and after 10 minutes of taxiing deplaned at the terminal's arrival gate at around 8:40 p.m.

Joining the President were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Socio-economic planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and other officials and staff of Malacanang.

In his short remarks, the President hailed his trip as one that was highly successful and significant as he was able to showcase the upliftment of the Philippines from being the "sick man of Asia" to its current state of being the region's best performing economy through honest and straightforward governance.

The President also highlighted the fact that he was able to discuss with his counterparts from other countries the Philippines' desire to set aside any differences and misunderstandings and forge forward for the benefit of the people and the region.

"Matagumpay at makabuluhan. Ito ang mga salitang magbubuod sa limang araw nating pagbiyahe sa Indonesia at Brunei para sa APEC at ASEAN summits. Unang araw pa lamang natin sa APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting sa Bali, Indonesia, kitang-kita na ang mainit na pagsalubong at pagkamangha ng ibang mga bansa sa nagaganap na positibong transpormasyon dito sa Pilipinas. Hindi po kalabisan kung sasabihin nating sabik na sabik silang malaman kung paanong, mula sa pagiging 'sick man of Asia,' ay unti-unti nating nabago't napatingkad ang imahen ng Pilipinas sa pandaigdigang entablado. Ibinahagi natin sa APEC CEO Summit Conversation with Leaders na ang kakaibang sigla at estabilidad ng ating ekonomiya ay nagmumula sa tapat at hayag na pamamahalang talagang nakatutok, hindi sa pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan, kundi sa pag-alaga sa kapakanan ng taumbayan," the President said.

"Naging produktibo din po ang partisipasyon natin sa ikadalawampu’t tatlong ASEAN Summit sa Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Sa pamamagitan ng Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, naisulong ang pagsuporta sa maliliit na negosyo at ang pagpapabuti sa daloy ng kalakal ng mga bansa. Tinalakay din natin ang pagpapatibay sa kahandaan sa mga sakuna, at ang seguridad ng mga Pilipino sa ibayong dagat. Sa paglawak ng impluwensya, at sa paglaki ng ginagampanang papel ng Timog Silangang Asya sa daigdig, kritikal din ang naganap na konsultasyon at dayalogo natin sa mga bansang kasapi ng ASEAN, gayundin sa ating strategic partners na Estados Unidos at bansang Hapon," he added.

The President stressed that he was able to voice out the need to implement a Code of Conduct in the West Philippine Sea which he said was widely received by his counterparts.

"Gaya ng dati, nanindigan tayo para sa implementasyon ng mga prinsipyong nakapaloob sa Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Muli rin nating isinulong na matutukan, sa lalong madaling panahon, ang pagpapanday ng isang Code of Conduct na susundin ng bawat miyembro. Ang mga hakbang natin tungo sa resolusyon ukol sa "the sea known by many names" ay nakatuon, hindi sa pansariling interes ng mga indibiduwal na bansa, kundi para sa mas aktibong kalakalan, malawakang kaunlaran, at mapayapang relasyon sa Asya. Sa bawat salitang ating binibitawan, naging malinaw po: Ang Pilipinas ay hindi na lamang basta isang munting tinig. Ngayon, may boses na tayong kinikilala, iginagalang at sinasang-ayunan ng marami," the President said.

In ending, the President underscored the importance of unity and cooperation as well as the need to pursue an advocacy collectively.

"Sa pambansa man o sa pandaigdigang konteksto, wala po talagang kahihinatnan ang pagkakanya-kanya. Kooperasyon at pagkakaunawaan: ito pa rin ang susi sa pagpapanatili ng isang mundong hitik sa pagkakataon at pag-asa para sa lahat," the President said.

"Ito mismo ang batayang prinsipyong gumabay, at patuloy na gagabay sa atin bilang isang bansa. Hindi natin hahayaang politika ang magdikta sa direksyong tatahakin ng mga Pilipino. Tanging ang interes ng nakararami, ang pagbuwag sa kultura ng katiwalian, at ang pagsusulong ng malawakang kaunlaran ang tumitimon sa bawat hakbang natin dito sa tuwid na daan. Tiyak kong hanggat nariyan ang mga Boss ko, ang sambayanang Pilipino, alam kong anumang pagsubok na ating kakaharapin ay higit lamang magpapalakas sa paninindigan nating magpamana ng isang Pilipinas na pakikinabangan at maipagmamalaki ng susunod na salinlahi," he added. PND (rck)


Aquino attends 23rd ASEAN Summit closing ceremony, chairmanship handover

(BRUNEI DARUSSALAM) President Benigno S. Aquino III joined Thursday other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the closing rites of the 23rd ASEAN Summit and the handover of ASEAN’s chairmanship from Brunei Darussalam to Myanmar.
President Thein Sein said the theme of Myanmar’s chairmanship would be “Moving forward in Unity in a Peaceful and Prosperous Community.”

The President said in one interview here that he believes Myanmar could handle the ASEAN chairmanship well and the ASEAN as a group must support it.

Aside from the ASEAN chairmanship, Myanmar will also host the East Asia Summit in 2014. The meeting will bring together ASEAN members with the US, China and Russia, and other countries.

According to the President, the choice made by Myanmar, to take the path towards democracy, has started to benefit its people.
But there are challenges that lie ahead, the President said, adding that President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi must work together for the national good.

The President has returned to Manila Thursday evening following his successful attendance to the 23rd ASEAN Summit here. PND (as)


Department of Social Welfare and Development earmarks P156.13 million in emergency relief assistance for families affected by typhoon Santi

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepositioned P156.13-million in emergency relief resources for families affected by typhoon ‘Santi,’ a Palace official said on Friday.

"The DSWD has prepositioned P156.13-million worth of emergency relief resources including the standby fund, which is worth P12.03 million; 37,858 family food packs worth P9.39 million; other food items worth P25-million as well as non-food items at P109.71- million," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang Palace.

At 2 p.m. Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration said "yellow" alert (Heavy Rainfall Warning) was raised over Quezon, Rizal and portions of Laguna, Bulacan and Pampanga.

"The field offices of DSWD have been activated and are coordinating with their local counterparts on how best to help the areas that are in the path of the typhoon," Valte said

The DSWD, together with local government units, will continue to mobilize its resources to help affected residents, Valte said.

In its most recent news bulletin, PAGASA said Typhoon Santi (international name Nari) gained intensity as it headed toward Aurora and Isabela area.

At 11 a.m. on Friday, October 11, the eye of Typhoon Santi was spotted at 230 kilometers East of Baler, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It is forecast to move West. PND (js)


Government hopes to reach agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on power sharing annex

The Aquino administration expressed optimism that both the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels can finish the power sharing annex of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), a Palace official said.

"Both sides are extremely optimistic that... they both expressed their optimism as well as their commitment to have something done by this round," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang Palace on Friday.

Valte said the government peace negotiators are optimistic to reach an agreement with the MILF, at least on the power-sharing annex, following the resumption of the 41st formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia early this week.

Both parties stressed the need to ensure just and acceptable solutions to address the decades-old conflict in Mindanao.

During the opening ceremonies for the 41st formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur this week, the government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer reiterated the importance of due diligence in coming up with viable solutions to the Bangsamoro problem.

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, in his opening statement, proposed to “finish the two remaining annexes especially on power sharing.”

The wealth-sharing annex was signed by both parties after concluding the 38th series of exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last July.


The Parties believe that the annex on wealth sharing will provide sufficient guidance for the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law’s provisions on wealth sharing and revenue generation for the Bangsamoro as envisioned by the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro. PND (js)