Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The government officially launches its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Sunday.
The opening ceremony happens at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City.
“Majority of the diplomatic corps will be there. Majority of the Cabinet will be there, the President will be there. It’s a ceremony that will kick off our chairmanship of the ASEAN,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told CNN Philippines on Thursday.
Sunday’s ceremony will be followed by several meetings and activities all throughout the year, most of which will be held in Davao, Metro Manila, and Cagayan De Oro, among others.
The ASEAN’s 10 member states are expected to focus their discussions on the South China Sea row, the Foreign Affairs Department said. At least four ASEAN member states – Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines – have territorial claims in the disputed waters.
Meanwhile, several civil society organizations are pushing for the inclusion of human rights in the ASEAN’s agenda. Over 2,230 suspects have been killed in police operations since the Duterte administration assumed office in July 1, while over 4,000 deaths have been attributed to vigilante killings.
Good for the economy
President Rodrigo Duterte accepted the chairmanship of the ASEAN during the closing ceremony of the 2016 ASEAN Summit in September.
With the theme, “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World,” Duterte promised to “pursue initiative and enhance cooperation with global partners to ensure ASEAN citizens live in peace, stability, security and growth.”
It is the Philippines’ third time to host the ASEAN leaders’ meetings.
The country’s hosting of the ASEAN is expected to benefit the local economy.
“There’s 630 million people in ASEAN. 2.5 Trillion dollars of business that goes around ASEAN every year. And us Filipinos need to realize that ASEAN is so important for us Filipinos because of the integration of this entire region,” Andanar said.
He added his office will conduct roadshows to educate the public about the ASEAN.
