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:

1. review and recommend revisions to the existing policies and programs or special projects that are essential to the advancement of national interests and to satisfy international commitments relative to the AEC framework 

2. enlist specialists and representatives of the academe, private sector, non-government organizations and such other government offices or agencies as may be necessary, to assist in policy and decision-making

3. Fast-track the creation of laws and policies that would immediately shift our policies in the ASEAN to the “three Cs” – Complementation, Collaboration, and Cooperation, rather than the “big C” of unbridled Competition

4. develop a national mechanism to increase awareness on ASEAN integration and propose policies to encourage citizens and communities to promote actions at the grassroots level

5. Harmonize existing laws of the country’s commitment to the AEC; and 6) develop and strengthen the Philippines-ASEAN roadmaps on Agriculture and Fisheries, Industry, Energy and Human Resources Development.

"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."