ASEAN hosting seen to boost business, security confidence

FILE: The Philippines expects a renewed boost in business confidence that will benefit more Filipinos, as it hosts the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits this week. (Photo by Marlon E/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

MANILA — The Philippines expects a renewed boost in business confidence that will benefit more Filipinos, as it hosts the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits this week.

This optimism was expressed by Atty. Michel Kristian Ablan, Asst. Secretary for Policy and Legislative Affairs of Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), which has been active in promoting ASEAN awareness to a broader audience during the country’s chairmanship this year.

“With the 31st ASEAN Summit, we all feel that because it runs smoothly, this will boost business confidence in the country, as well as boost confidence in the security area in the region,” Ablan said in an interview Friday.

Ablan noted that this is the third time the PCOO organized a large gathering following the 30th ASEAN Summit last April, and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN last September and November.

“We are confident that this will surely reaffirm our commitment towards our global partners, and bring in projects and establish agreements that would benefit people from all walks of life,” he said in a briefing.

Ablan also cited various efforts of the PCOO team to inform the public of “what ASEAN is and its benefits to the ordinary Filipino.”

These include initiating multi-sectoral forums and dialogues, and hosting a multimedia campaign for the 31st ASEAN Summit “One ASEAN, a Global Player” highlighting the regional bloc’s readiness to play a greater role in world affairs.

“A stronger and more united ASEAN, the region is now committed more than ever to engage the world and seize opportunities that our future holds for us. We are confident that the succeeding meetings this week will cement the achievements of the Philippines’ Chairmanship for the years to come,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ablan also assured the public that appropriate measures are ready to ensure the safety and security of all the state leaders, the delegates and the media participating in the summit.

He said 60,000 security personnel were deployed in the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila and Clark in Pampanga.