By Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
President Duterte is set to discuss issues that affect the well-being of people in Southeast Asia during the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Singapore next week.
Duterte will join nine other ASEAN leaders in the summit from April 27 to 28. He was the previous chairman of the summit before passing the ASEAN gavel to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in November last year.
According to Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Hellen de la Vega, Duterte would address issues “close to his heart,” especially matters that affect the well-being of the people in the region.
“He will work with other leaders in putting an imprint towards the realization of ASEAN Vision 2025 by identifying and prioritizing initiatives that will move forward action lines in the political, security, economic, and socio-cultural communities, particularly on the deliverables of our chairmanship last year,” De La Vega said, referring to the ASEAN consensus on the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers and the ASEAN declaration on the role of civil service as a catalyst to realize the “ASEAN Vision 2025,” and other declarations that focus on the overall health of the citizens of the region.
She also said that Duterte will speak in two important engagements in the summit, the working dinner on Friday next week, and the Leaders’ Retreat next Saturday.
“The President will be joining other leaders of ASEAN member-states in continuing the work of advancing community building and in living up to the shared commitment of maintaining and promoting the peace, security, and stability of the region,” De La Vega said.
