BAGUIO CITY— Residents here see positive things happening after the country’s hosting of the 31st ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit and related meetings.
Raquel Lachica, a court employee, said there is a lot of positive things that can result from the just concluded ASEAN summit, “seeing how the Philippines has emerged as a very prominent voice not just in the ASEAN but in the whole world as well.”
As a Filipino, she takes pride that President Rodrigo Duterte is carving a niche for the country in the international community even while pursuing an independent foreign policy.
Dr. Reynaldo Bautista, a businessman, also praised the government for the smooth and safe summit that made ASEAN’s 50th anniversary this year truly a “golden celebration both in substance and form.”
He likewise lauded all the Filipinos who contributed to the success of the Summit.
On the other hand, police Superintendent Gemma Braganza, deputy chief of the regional headquarters support group, is confident that the benefits of the country’s hosting of this year’s ASEAN events will trickle down to the ordinary Filipinos, especially those working overseas.
He said the strengthened ties with neighboring countries could mean more job opportunities abroad and more local products being exported.
For his part, Bauko, Mountain Province Mayor James Pooten congratulated the country for the successful summit hosting. At the same time, he expressed hope “all gains gained as a result of the summit will trickle down to us living in remote municipalities” and that the “Chinese government would finally respect the decision of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) recognizing the Philippines’ sovereignty over the Scarborough Shoal”.
Meanwhile, James Palicdon, an employee of the Benguet Electric Cooperative, believes the country gained in terms of tourism and from the treaties signed on economy and peace and order, during the ASEAN Summit.
The country hosted the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings from November 12-14. (PNA)
