DILG-LGA convenes "Forum on Asean Economic Integration: The Role of Local Governments" ~ HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS

Friday, October 17, 2014

DILG-LGA convenes "Forum on Asean Economic Integration: The Role of Local Governments"

Friday, October 17, 2014 Herbert Curia - Promoter No comments

From the Website of DILG
links: http://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-LGA-convenes-Forum-on-Asean-Economic-Integration-The-Role-of-Local-Governments/NC-2014-1091

DILG-LGA convenes "Forum on Asean Economic Integration: The Role of Local Governments"

October 13, 2014

(11 October 2014, Pasay City) – Over 500 attendees gathered during the two-day “Forum on ASEAN Economic Integration: The Role of Local Governments” held from 10-11 October, at the Heritage Hotel, Pasay City. Organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through its training arm, the Local Government Academy, the event was conducted to support local government units in the changes involved in the ASEAN economic integration.

Rising as One

The Philippines, as part of the ASEAN community is moving towards achieving the ASEAN Economic Integration (AEI) by 2015. This envisions a highly competitive, equitable and resilient economic region – a single market and production base and fully integrated into the global economy.

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, in his opening speech, read by Undersecretary Peter Irving Corvera, praised local chief executives and their “fervent aspirations and strong political will to be business-friendly,” noting that these will be crucial factors to the integration process. Reiterating the Secretary’s remarks on the Aquino administration’s Daang Matuwid principle, DTI’s Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr., and Mr. Alfredo Yao and Mr. Ruy Moreno of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and National Competitiveness Council, respectively, stressed the efforts to fully eliminate graft and corrupt practices to enable the conditions that characterize a conducive setting for businesses and that attract investors and other partners.

The Forum also featured break-out sessions that discussed critical areas of integration: tourism development, agri-business investment, LGUs’ competitiveness, and human resource development.

The morning session of the second day saw representatives from the embassies of Indonesia, Singapore, and Viet Nam, sharing their country’s initiatives towards the ASEAN economic integration.

The Role of LGUs

Undersecretary Austere A. Panadero (DILG) summed up by providing highlights of the plenaries and sessions -- “having a sustained growth and development cannot be overemphasized in the face of global and regional trends,” he said.

As the previous year’s forum was successful in raising awareness among local governments about their essential role in building the ASEAN Economic Community, this year’s event laid out how LGUs can carry out their commitments. According to Undersecretary Panadero, there is a need to streamline the roles of all who are involved in the process, such that, capacities to support local and small and medium enterprises, as well as to attract domestic and foreign investors will be enhanced. He cited the Local Economic Development for LGUs (LED4LGUs) and the Regulatory Simplification Program as some of the initiatives launched by DILG which are supportive of this pursuit.

“Our LGUs need to be equipped with the right knowledge and instil in them the value of being part of the ASEAN Economic Community,” he also added.