Rody: Challenges can be resolved the ‘Asean way’

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Development in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains skewed despite its achievements in the last 50 years, but President Duterte is optimistic that  challenges can be resolved the “ASEAN way.”

Duterte told more than 700 participants in the World Economic Forum on ASEAN here that the ASEAN way means “achieving sustainable and inclusive development for our region” through integration and “according to our needs, at our own pace and guided by our core values.”

“We want to ensure that the benefits of integration are felt by all our people in the region,” he said, noting that while the ASEAN had seen poverty levels decrease by half in the last 50 years, there remains a huge disparity in the gross domestic product per capita among member-countries – from $1,200 to nearly $53,000.

He said one way to address the disparity is to remain committed to the ASEAN Integration Work Plan III which is targeted to accelerate economic integration of the newer partners – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.  

The President pointed out that another way of resolving the disparity is by promoting “inclusive, innovation-led growth.”  

He said the Philippines champions economic priority deliverables that provide an enabling environment for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to develop and become regionally and globally competitive.  

“MSMEs, after all, are significant contributors to ASEAN community.  By boosting MSME capacities, we support equitable development, competitiveness and robustness of the region’s economy. Certainly, our community can only become strong if it is a well-connected and highly integrated region,” he said.

The President likewise discussed the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 which he said must not remain a vision but become a reality if the region wants to promote competitiveness, inclusiveness and a greater sense of a community.  

Duterte also emphasized the need to invest in human capital development in the region.

“In this regard, we have to focus on sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, seamless logistics, regulatory excellence and people mobility,” he said.

Duterte also told forum participants that the Philippines, together with Southeast Asian countries, is in a demographic sweet spot and is likely to post Asia’s fastest economic growth rates in the coming years.

“The youth is certainly a key sector that we must invest in. The ASEAN Work Plan on Youth 2016 to 2020 encourages youth entrepreneurship, employment and employability, awareness, volunteerism and resilience,” he said.

“The ASEAN youth are among the best and most creative, intelligent and innovative in the world. We must empower them to be the best version of themselves,” he further said.

The WEF on ASEAN gathered over 700 leaders from business, governments as well as the youth and the academe.

Greater collaboration

Duterte called for greater cooperation between the governments of ASEAN and the private sector with the ASEAN way or integration in mind. 

“The ASEAN way has allowed us to get to where we are now. It will take us forward furthermore,” he said.

The President said that as current ASEAN chair, the Philippines resolves to establish meaningful partnerships for positive change “as we engage the larger world.” 

“We aim to operationalize the ASEAN’s goal of achieving a vibrant, sustainable and highly integrated economy. Our vision is an ASEAN Economic Community that is relevant, responsive and transformative,” Duterte said.

“This, as we seek ASEAN’s unity and solidarity at all times through a common principled position that enhances its role and amplifies its voice in the international fora. We will continue to seize opportunities with our economic partners within and outside of the region,” he further said.