President Rodrigo R. Duterte will attend the 27th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders meeting on Friday, November 20, pushing for strengthened cooperation among countries against Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and ensuring adequate vaccine supply for everyone.
According to Presidential Protocol Chief and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Robert Borje, the meeting will be conducted via video conferencing. This will also be attended by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez.
“Isa sa mga importanteng isyu para kay Pangulo ay ang free flow ng mga goods and supplies. And particularly dito ang ating mga COVID-19 vaccine, ang ating mga medical supplies, ang mga pharmaceutical supplies, at mga equipment. Dahil kapag hindi natin na-address ang mga pangangailangang ito, kung may sakit ang mga tao, walang magtatrabaho, kung walang magtatrabaho, bagsak ang ekonomiya. So iyon ang foremost sa isip ng Pangulo (One of the most important issues for the President is the free flow of goods and supplies. And particularly the COVID-19 vaccine, medical supplies, pharmaceutical supplies, and equipment. If we do not address these needs, if people will be sick, no one will work, if no one will work, the economy will fail. So that is the foremost thought of the President),” USec. Borje disclosed.
The President is also expected to talk about the issue of climate change.
“Climate change is something that is integrated in the discussion. It’s as far as I know, it’s not explicitly stated, pero magandang tanong ‘yan. Ang importante ay when you talk about sustainable economies, kasama ang climate change action diyan (but that is a good question. What is important is when you talk about sustainable economies, climate change action is included).”
The APEC that consists of 21 member-economies including the Philippines will be hosted by Malaysia.
President Duterte has always been attending the yearly summit since he assumed the Philippine presidency.
Report from Mela Lesmoras
