Special House committee on ASEAN integration pushed

MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker pushed for the creation of a special committee within the House of Representatives to seize opportunities and address threats associated with the looming integration of member countries into  the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community (AEC) next year.

“There is an urgent need to create said special committee to address these concerns vital to the country, particularly on matters relating to cross-cutting Philippine policies and programs covering products and services to be affected by the establishment and existence of the AEC,” Rep. Juliette Uy of the 2nd District of Misamis Oriental said.

Uy pushed for House Resolution 1153, creating the special committee that would:

"The AEC will give rise to the free movement of goods, services, investments, skilled labor, and freer flow of capital in the region,” she said, adding that “in any effort at regional integration, the threats that accompany opportunities need to be identified and effectively addressed policy-wise."