Confront challenges head on, Duterte tells co-ASEAN leaders

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte speaks before other leaders from the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering held at the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua in Bali, Indonesia on October 11, 2018. Also in the photo is Secretary Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

BALI, Indonesia — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday dared his fellow leaders in Southeast Asia to confront all challenges “head on” to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“With only 12 more years to go before the deadline for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, now is the time to ask the hard question: Are we on track towards achieving the objectives we set for ourselves?” Duterte said during the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering held at the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort here.

He said the ASEAN region has maintained a steady growth path as shown by a 15-percent growth in trade and 12 percent in foreign direct investment.

“But the question remains – can we sustain this growth and make development truly inclusive for everyone in Southeast Asia?” Duterte asked.

Though “indications” are encouraging that the region is making headway in meeting the SDGs, Duterte said dark clouds are looming on the horizon.

“They warn us of real challenges that we must face. Escalating trade tensions and protectionism threaten to undermine the gains we have achieved in the economic front,” he said.

He said natural calamities bear down on governments with limited resources while terrorism and violent extremism, as well as transnational crimes such as the illegal drugs trade.

“Lure the disadvantaged and marginalized into divisive, devious and destructive alternates to genuine development,” he said. “We have no other option but to confront these challenges head on. To do so, we must be prepared to invest in ourselves.”

He called for a stronger ASEAN that will unlock the potentials of the ASEAN Economic Community and deal with an interconnected world economic order.

“Only a stronger ASEAN will allow us to effectively deal with regional and global economic powerhouses. And only a stronger ASEAN can take on opportunities that are only available to the many that work together,” Duterte said.

“This, so the world can see that ASEAN is worth investing in. This, so global institutions should rightly support us in achieving our goals,” he added.

The President said ASEAN can even surpass what other regional blocks have done if “we ramp up ASEAN-centered efforts to bring down collective trade and investment barriers.”

For the Philippines, Duterte informed his fellow ASEAN leaders and officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB) and United Nations (UN) that the country’s economy “is on an upward trajectory.”

He said the Philippines continues to work hard to build and strengthen an enabling environment.

“Make no mistake. We are serious in practicing good governance. We are committed to address corruption. And we are resolute in securing our nation from criminal elements and terrorist threats,” Duterte said.

The Philippines, he said, is also investing in its future and pushing innovation and resiliency in the field of trade and investment to further drive growth.

“We have embarked on an ambitious ‘Build,Build,Build’ program that can support domestic consumption and cushion the impact of decreased external demand,” Duterte said.

“We are unrelenting in our resolve to ensure a peaceful, secure and stable environment that protects the greater common good. But we must do more. We have to work together,” he added.

Duterte took the opportunity to reiterate his and the Filipino people’s sincere sympathies for the tremendous loss of lives and extensive damage to property brought by earthquake and tsunami that recently ravaged Palu in Central Sulawesi.

“Indonesia has taken on the challenge of rebuilding and rehabilitating its communities. Indonesia stands resilient and unbowed in these difficult times. But Indonesia does not stand alone,” the President said. “Your brothers and sisters in ASEAN stand with you. In responding to disasters, Southeast Asia has declared: One ASEAN, One Response. And we have done so.”

The Philippines has extended more or less USD500,000 (about PHP27 million) worth of assistance to Indonesia.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, WB President Jim Yong-kim, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres attended the meeting themed “Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Overcoming Development Gap through Regional and Global Collaborative Actions”.

After the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering, Indonesia will host the 2018 Annual Meetings of the IMF and WB Group in Bali on October 12-14.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien-Loong co-chaired the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering.

Other ASEAN leaders present were Prime Ministers H.M. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Brunei Darussalam, Hun Sen of Cambodia; Thonglun Sisoulith of Laos, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha of Thailand, Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam; and President U Win Myint of Myanmar.