Arroyo: RP’s voice will be heard in Asean

The Philippines’ voice would be louder this time during the 11th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur as the country is being recognized for its economic strides and prowess in regional athletics, President Arroyo said yesterday.

In a taped pre-departure statement, the President said she will use the country’s growing prominence as "a strong player" in the ASEAN to strongly push for the country’s interest including increasing trade and investments as well as ensuring energy and human security.

"The season has been good for the economy, which strengthens our voice in the region to call for decision and action on key issues on trade, investment, security and human development," Mrs. Arroyo said. "The unity and solidarity of our people has been reinforced by our big win in the Southeast Asian Games, and the medals we are reaping in economic stability."

"This gives me the confidence to represent the Filipino as a strong player in ASEAN and East Asia," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo and her party left at 8:15 a.m. on board Philippine Airlines PR 001 after a simple departure ceremony at the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

Among those who saw the President off at Villamor Airbase were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Generoso Senga, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Arturo Lomibao, Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Jose Reyes and Philippine Navy Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga.

The ASEAN summit meeting ends on Dec. 14.

The President cited "four main reasons why the Philippines has a huge stake in ASEAN" — energy, counter-terrorism, maritime security and the Brunei-Indonesia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, or BIMP-EAGA.

Mrs. Arroyo said she will pursue investments in energy infrastructure and broader collaboration among ASEAN members in developing new and renewable energy and alternative fuels "to keep our economies humming and our lights on through the next three decades."

The President said she will also push for joint efforts by ASEAN, the United States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization composed of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to ensure and strengthen regional security in this part of the globe.

"Maritime security is also imperative to stop piracy and armed robbery, as well as arms smuggling and human trafficking along the vulnerable sea lanes of the region," she said. "Joint border patrols must be the norm across our common seas."

The regional grouping needs to "boldly step up the alleviation of poverty in the BIMP-EAGA sub-regions, reinvestments and tourism, making it the broader strategic arena for durable peace and development in Mindanao," she added.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, who was part of the presidential party, said that after the customary arrival honors for the President at the Bunga Raya complex, the Philippine delegation immediately drove to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel where she had a working lunch with the delegation.

Bunye said the President’s other activities during the first day of the three-day summit included the 2nd BIMP-EAGA Summit, a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wen Jiabao, a meeting with the Filipino community and an informal dinner with the heads of state of the ASEAN members.

"Host Malaysia has been actively brokering a peace agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the MILF," Bunye said. "It is the head of a three-nation international monitoring team, whose presence in Mindanao has contributed greatly to the maintenance of the ceasefire with the MILF, one reason why President Arroyo is optimistic that a peace agreement within 2006 is a distinct possibility."