Duterte cuts short video conference with ASEAN

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte yesterday begged off from further engaging other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at their virtual summit, saying he had to attend to the concerns of the nation being battered by a strong typhoon.

“If I must tell you, we are now suffering in the midst of the storm of Typhoon Ulysses. There is a great damage and I may not be around to attend further in this regard for I have to go around and see what I can do for my people,” the President said in his intervention at the plenary session of the 37th ASEAN Leaders Summit. The summit is until Sunday.

The President has another scheduled attendance in the virtual ASEAN Summit aside from yesterday’s plenary session. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. represented the country at the summit.

He said that two weeks ago, the country had to bear the onslaught of another typhoon. He was referring to Typhoon Rolly.

“But the typhoon left a trail of destruction in infrastructure and property. This represents a setback for our development agenda, particularly in the affected regions. This calamity is yet another stark reminder of the urgency of collective action to combat the effects of climate change,” Duterte said.

Duterte said that ASEAN must therefore further enhance its cooperation on disaster risk reduction management to reinforce capacities, both at the national and regional levels.

“More importantly, we must amplify our voices to demand climate justice from those most responsible for this existential challenge we face today. Developed countries must lead in deep and drastic cuts in carbon emissions. They must act now, or it would be too late. Or if I may say… it is too late,” he added.

The President said developed countries must also deliver on their commitment to finance and invest in innovative adaptation solutions in the developing world.

“So we too can have a fair shot at progress and sustainable development. This is their moral responsibility from which there should be no escape. Otherwise, it would be great injustice – a double blow to those who bear the brunt of the adverse consequences of their past actions and present inactions,” Duterte likewise said.

Locsin said this year’s annual summit, chaired by Vietnam with the theme “Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN” would last 12 hours.

In his message, Duterte also underscored the need for cooperation among the member-nations to ensure that every country is given access to vaccine for COVID-19.

“We must work together to ensure that all nations – rich or poor – will have access to safe vaccines. No one is safe until all of us are safe,” said Duterte.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is the defining challenge of our generation. Over the year, we strove to achieve a delicate balance of saving lives while keeping our economies afloat,” he said his message delivered virtually from the Malago Clubhouse at Malacañang Park.

“We are now confronted with the complexity and enormity of the recovery process. We aim for a comprehensive recovery to build back better, healthier, and more prosperous societies,” he said. – Pia Lee-Brago