Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo emphasized the importance of promoting ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) as an instrument to help uplift the quality of life of ordinary citizens during yesterday’s launch of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Pillar Chairmanship at Marquee Mall, Angeles City, Pampanga.
DSWD is this year’s chair of the ASCC Pillar, one of the three pillars of ASEAN. The other pillars are ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) and ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
As the Philippines hosts this year’s ASEAN Summit, Sec. Taguiwalo appealed to the media to help raise awareness among Filipino citizens on the true meaning of ASEAN, and “why it is important to us as a people.”
“Sana ay tulungan ninyo kami na maipaabot sa mga mamamayan ang kahalagahan at katuturan ng ASEAN (We hope you could help us impart to our people the importance and significance of ASEAN),” Sec. Taguiwalo stated.
This was also the message of Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Director General for Operations of ASEAN-National Organizing Committee (NOC) and Executive Director Zaldy Patron of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The DFA is the co-chair of the ASCC Pillar.
“Here in the Philippines, the people do not really know what ASEAN means and what it stands for. In other ASEAN countries, like Malaysia and Indonesia, even ordinary citizens are aware of what ASEAN is,” Ambassador Paynor said.
On the other hand, Dir. Patron explained, “Kung successful ang chairmanship ng Philippines sa ASEAN, karangalan ito ng bawa’t Pilipino (If the Philippines’ chairmanship of ASEAN is successful, this is an honor for every Filipino).”
To bring the ASEAN Summit closer to ordinary Filipinos, Sec. Taguiwalo said that the secretariat chose Pampanga and Marquee Mall as the venue for the launch of the ASCC. Employees, students, solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other sectors watched the opening ceremony this morning and visited the booths and exhibits of the ASCC member-agencies.
“The 31st ASEAN Summit in November will also be held in Clark, Pampanga, and we expect many local government units (LGUs) to participate in it,” she said.
People’s aspirations
In her message, Sec. Taguiwalo further expounded that the ASCC Pillar directly addresses the aspirations of the people in the region.
“Tayo ang buhay, kulay, puso, kultura at musika ng ASEAN (We are the life, color, heart, culture and music of ASEAN) Our respective culture asserts our own identity, but, it is also important to appreciate the culture of our ASEAN neighbors,” she stressed.
The DSWD chief touched on the issues which she hopes the ASEAN leaders will tackle during their meetings to reach common agreements. These include protection of migrant workers; social protection of vulnerable sectors, such as women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities; and, gender equality.
Sec. Taguiwalo added that the ASEAN meetings could also be a venue for sharing experiences on other issues like disaster mitigation.
The ASCC aims to help the ASEAN realize its goal of an ASEAN community that is people-oriented and socially responsible, with a view to establish solidarity and unity among the peoples and Member-States of the ASEAN. ###
