By Katrina Gracia Consebido
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday, Nov. 11, asked for regional unity to make the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) responsive in addressing present crises and challenges.
Speaking before his fellow ASEAN leaders, Marcos stressed the need to reassert ASEAN Centrality that will mandate its mechanisms for community-building efforts.
“It is imperative that we reassert ASEAN Centrality. This in the face of geopolitical dynamics and tensions in the region and the proliferation of Indo-Pacific engagements, including the requests of our Dialogue Partners for closer partnerships,” Marcos said.
“ASEAN’s response to this is the forward-looking ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific, with its essential element of ASEAN Centrality in the implementation of ASEAN-led mechanisms, projects, and initiatives for our Community Building efforts,” he added.
The President also urged to boost ASEAN food security cooperation through bolstered initiatives and revitalizing the region’s economies through tourism recovery, energy cooperation, trade, and investment.
“We should enhance ASEAN food security cooperation through strengthened initiatives and expanded projects under the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry and other related mechanisms, including those with our Dialogue Partners,” he continued.
“We need to solidify our food resilience and promote food self-sufficiency , through the use of new agricultural technologies, in order to protect the region and our countries from shocks to the global food value chain, as well as against adverse effects of climate change,” the President said.
The Chief Executive also mentioned the enhancement in digitalization of the healthcare system and the micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as the e-commerce platforms and other sectors.
