SECRETARY of Foreign Affairs (SFA) Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. called on the region’s foreign ministers to “build back better and healthier in 2021,” as they held their first meeting for the year.
During the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat held via video conference late in January, Locsin announced that the Philippines will contribute $100,000 to the Asean Covid-19 Response Fund (ACRF).
Acting Undersecretary Elizabeth P. Buensuceso—the Philippines’s Leader to the Asean Senior Officials’ Meeting—earlier proposed to tap the ACRF for the procurement of vaccines and medical supplies, and even the training of health personnel, as well as other frontliners.
“We must take the challenges of 2020 in stride and strive to build back better, healthier, and more prosperous societies through deeper engagements on vital issues uniting [the region],” the secretary said.
“We must maintain the momentum of our engagements in 2020 into 2021, particularly in our efforts to respond to the challenges of [the pandemic],” the country’s top diplomat added.
As the first meeting of Asean Foreign Ministers for the year under the chairmanship of Brunei Darussalam, Locsin expressed support for the said country as the new Asean chair. He commented on the theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper” as a fitting anchor for regional efforts in the service of the region’s citizens, as well as in strengthening its mechanisms and preparedness to hurdle challenges.
The SFA also recognized Asean external partners, and said they all greatly contributed to the bloc’s response and recovery versus the pandemic.
He said the Philippines is now on the third phase of its action plan against the health crisis, involving a strategy that combines response and recovery by a gradual opening of the economy with the least risk to public health.
On the South China Sea/West Philippine dispute, Locsin said the Philippines will press harder for the completion of the second reading of the Single Draft Negotiating Text of the negotiations on the Code of Conduct. DFA
Image credits: DFA