{"id":252020,"date":"2020-04-14T06:49:17","date_gmt":"2020-04-14T10:49:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=252020"},"modified":"2020-04-14T06:50:22","modified_gmt":"2020-04-14T10:50:22","slug":"asean-collaboration-necessary-to-defeat-covid-19-duter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2020\/04\/14\/asean-collaboration-necessary-to-defeat-covid-19-duter\/","title":{"rendered":"Asean collaboration necessary to defeat Covid-19: Duterte"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gives his address as he joins other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries during the special Asean Summit on Covid-19 video conference at the Malago Clubhouse in Malaca\u00f1ang on April 14, 2020. (Presidential photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MANILA<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) must work together to counter the adverse social and economic impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic on the regional bloc, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo effectively overcome the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic, Asean must collaborate and coordinate within our region and beyond,\u201d Duterte said during his address at the Special Asean Summit on Covid-19.<\/p>\n

During the \u201cLaging Handa\u201d press briefing aired on state-run PTV-4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that Duterte joined his fellow Southeast Asian leaders in a \u201cvirtual\u201d meeting to discuss ways to defeat Covid-19.<\/p>\n

Duterte said that while the immediate responses made by Asean member-states to fight Covid-19 were necessary, these could drive the societies and the large international community \u201cfurther apart.\u201d<\/p>\n

He warned that retreating from the regional and global connections would be counterproductive.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn effective, strategic response requires that we come together and cooperate even more,\u201d Duterte said.<\/p>\n

Among the Asean member-states, the Philippines now has the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases, which is at 4,932.<\/p>\n

It is followed by Malaysia (4,817), Indonesia (4,557), Singapore (2,918), Thailand (2,579), Vietnam (265), Brunei Darussalam (136), Cambodia (122), Myanmar (39), and Laos (19).<\/p>\n

Four areas of cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Duterte acknowledged that Asean is in the \u201cmiddle of an unfolding catastrophe,\u201d which is \u201cunprecedented in scale and devastating in impact for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the most visceral way, Covid-19 is upending the totality of our way of life. And this virus threatens to exact the highest tolls — on our peoples and our economies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

To be successful in the battle against the \u201cnew and different kind of enemy,\u201d Duterte mentioned four areas of cooperation for the regional bloc.<\/p>\n

Duterte stressed the need to boost production and facilitate intra-Asean trade of vital medicines and medical equipment and supplies.<\/p>\n

He made the proposal as he emphasized that the Southeast Asian nations\u2019 healthcare systems are under \u201cincreasing stress\u201d due to the rise in Covid-19 infections.<\/p>\n

Duterte said Asean should also remain open for trade to ensure the supply chain connectivity and the smooth flow of goods within the region.<\/p>\n

He said food security is key in maintaining \u201csocio-economic and political stability,\u201d especially at a time that people from the Southeast Asian countries are suffering due to Covid-19.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are particularly concerned with food security in this period of lockdowns. Our most urgent priority is ensuring sufficient supply of rice for our people,\u201d Duterte said.<\/p>\n

The third point Duterte raised was the Asean\u2019s support for vaccine and research and development initiatives.<\/p>\n

Duterte said Asean should fast-track cooperation with its Dialogue Partners in developing vaccine for Covid-19.<\/p>\n

He added that the Philippines is ready to join clinical trials for Covid-19 treatment in an effort to stop the further transmission of the new coronavirus.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout a vaccine or a cure, we can only delay the spread of the disease. But containment, in whatever form and degree, will have staggering socio-economic implications for all of us,\u201d Duterte said.<\/p>\n

Duterte also called on his fellow Asean leaders to establish an early warning system for pandemics in the region.<\/p>\n

He said such move is \u201csomething vital and concrete that we can do in a collective manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCovid-19 will not be the last pandemic the world will face. We have to be ready for future outbreaks. We therefore have to improve and expand existing Asean\u2019s mechanisms to cover public health emergencies,\u201d Duterte said.<\/p>\n

Duterte also welcomed Thailand\u2019s proposal to establish a Covid-19 Asean Response Fund and Vietnam\u2019s crafting of Asean\u2019s response from the early stages of the outbreak.<\/p>\n

He likewise took note of Brunei Darussalam and Singapore\u2019s timely assistance to the Philippines.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur present challenge transcends borders and exempts no one. Regardless of how we handle the crisis within our own respective territories, we can only be truly safe if we defeat this virus everywhere. Let us therefore strengthen our networks of solidarity and cooperation. Let us surmount this crisis together,\u201d Duterte said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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