PGMA's Departure Statement |
Heroes Hall, Malacaņang (11 December 2005) |
| I pray to the Lord for more
gains for the Filipino people as I depart for the ASEAN Summit. 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. There are four main reason why the Philippines has a huge stake in ASEAN: energy, counterterrorism, maritime security, and the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN growth area, or BIMP-EAGA. We need to pursue investments in energy infrastructure and seek wider collaboration in new and renewable energy and alternative fuels if we need to keep our economies humming, and our lights on, through the next three decades. We need a broader front of regional security involving ASEAN, the United States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) on counter terrorism cooperation. Interfaith dialogue must pace security cooperation. 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. Joint border patrols must be the norm across our common seas. We need to boldly step up the alleviation of poverty in the BIMP EAGA sub-region through investments and tourism, making the broader strategic arena for durable peace and development in Mindanao. The unity and solidarity of our people, reinforced by our big win in the Southeast Asian Games and the medals we are reaping in economic stability, gives me the confidence to represent the Filipino as a strong player in ASEAN and East Asia. The Philippines is hosting next year's ASEAN summit, and I shall be proud to invite the leaders to the shores of a vibrant nation and a strong player and ally in one of the most bouyant regions of the world. God bless the Philippines. |