PGMA's Statement during the Departure Ceremonies for a Visit to Bangkok, Thailand |
Villamor Airbase, Pasay City (29 April 2003) |
| THE ASEAN SARS SUMMIT IN
BANGKOK TODAY IS AN EFFORT TO GATHER OUR COLLECTIVE MATERIAL AND POLITICAL RESOURCES IN
THE REGION TO FIGHT THE DREADED DISEASE. THE MEETING HOPEFULLY WILL BRING BETTER RESULTS
IN TERMS OF THE IDENTIFICATION, CONTAINMENT AND TREATMENT OF CASES AS IT WILL CARRY A
STRONG STATEMENT OF COHESION IN THE SAME WAY WE TOOK A COMMON STAND IN THE FACE OF THE
ASIAN CRISIS IN 1997 AND THE SEPTEMBER 2001 TRAGEDY IN THE UNITED STATES. BY REACHING ACROSS BORDERS FOR COMMON SOLUTIONS, ASEAN IS PROJECTING A VERY STRONG MESSAGE THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO CLOSE RANKS FOR THE WORLD TO FIGHT THIS THREAT TO THE END. ASEAN NATIONS ARE ALREADY DOING THEIR BEST INDIVIDUALLY. BUT FORGING A COMMON PROGRAM WILL MULTIPLY OUR INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS AND REDUCE OUR WEAKNESSES. I SHALL MAKE A SPECIAL APPEAL IN BEHALF OF THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FILIPINO WORKERS SPREAD ACROSS ASEAN. I SHALL SEEK PROTECTION WITHIN ASEAN NOT ONLY FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY BUT FOR THE JOBS OF FILIPINOS. I SHALL APPEAL TO MY COLLEAGUES TO ENSURE THE BEST TREATMENT IS EXTENDED TO OUR NATIONALS WHO ARE SUSPECTED TO BE OR ACTUALLY AFFLICTED BY SARS. AND THAT ALL POSSIBLE ACCOMMODATIONS BE GRANTED TO GUARANTEE THE SECURITY OF THEIR JOBS IN THE FACE OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN. THANK YOU. |