Marcos bats for climate change mitigation, elders' welfare, Timor Leste's ASEAN membership

BY Argyll Cyrus Geducos
May 10, 2023 05:35 AM

At a glance

  • Marcos urges ASEAN to ensure the health of its elders and their safe, dignified, and productive life, citing concerns about the region's aging population.

  • Marcos says ASEAN must be united in urging developed countries to fulfill their commitments to the Paris Agreement.

  • Marcos says Timor Leste's admission to the bloc would help expand the reach of ASEAN’s united front to face the challenges of the 21st Century.

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia — In order to harness the potential of the region, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to double its efforts in priority areas, including addressing its aging population, climate action, and expanding the bloc's reach.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (ASEAN Summit screenshot)
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (ASEAN Summit screenshot)

Marcos said this during the opening ceremony of the 42nd ASEAN Summit at the Merourah Komodo here on Wednesday, May 10.

In his remarks, the President recognized a report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that one in every four people in the Asia-Pacific will be over the age of 60 by 2050, making the region's aging population a cause for concern.

"It is time that ASEAN starts discussing the concerns of an aging population, consistent with the Asian tradition of valuing our elders. We must view this both as an opportunity and a challenge, especially in terms of adequate social benefits and social empowerment," he said.

"ASEAN goals and work plans should ensure health for our elders, a safe and dignified, and productive life," he added.

Climate change

Marcos called on his fellow ASEAN leaders to be united in urging developed countries to "fulfill their long-standing commitments to the Paris Agreement," saying the developing countries suffered the most.

"Developing countries like the Philippines only account for less than one percent of global emissions; our countries bear the brunt of the devastating impacts of climate change," he said.

"Developed countries have a moral obligation to support adaptation and mitigation efforts for the most vulnerable countries through technology transfer, capacity-building, and climate financing. This, to address loss and damage and to achieve the necessary breakthroughs for climate action at a global scale," he added.

In line with this, the President said The Philippines would take bold steps to transition to renewable and alternative energy technologies securely and sustainably.

Recognizing that a clean energy future is anchored on the supply of critical minerals, Marcos added that ASEAN should now start enhancing regional cooperation toward boosting the region's strategic industrial metals and minerals value chain.

Timor Leste's membership

President Marcos likewise urged his counterparts to provide "whole-of-community support" to Timor Leste as it continues its journey towards full ASEAN membership.

"Its membership can only strengthen our ASEAN community as it expands the reach of ASEAN's united front to face the challenges of the 21st Century," he said.

"Let us renew our collective faith in the organization by consolidating our community-building efforts towards an ASEAN that truly matters," he added.

At the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in November 2022, Timor-Leste was admitted, in principle, as the 11th Member of ASEAN.

Human trafficking

According to the President, ASEAN must uphold international law and the international rules-based system that has underpinned the region's peace, security, stability, and prosperity.

In particular, Marcos said the Philippines welcomes Indonesia's ASEAN chairmanship priority of strengthening regional cooperation to address cross-border crimes, particularly trafficking in persons caused by the misuse of technology, and to mainstream the protection of migrant workers and their families in crisis situations.

Free trade

Marcos said ASEAN should demonstrate its commitment to free trade and the multilateral trading system. In line with this, the President said the Philippines had deposited its instrument of ratification to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement.

"We are optimistic that the RCEP will serve as an engine of growth that will help build more resilient supply chains and support the integration of our micro-, medium-, and small-scale establishments into the global economy," he said.

The RCEP is a free trade agreement (FTA) between the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its five FTA partners: Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea.
Food security

President Marcos said ASEAN must ensure that food and security systems are resilient in the face of supply and price fluctuations triggered by geopolitical instability and conflicts, pandemics, climate change, logistic chain disruptions, and fuel shortages.

"The Philippines aims to strengthen food security and production efficiency via the use of new agricultural technologies, upgrading technical and vocational education and training, and adopting climate- and disaster-resilient technologies," he said.

Digital economy

Meanwhile, Marcos highlighted the importance of capacitating people with digital skills so that everyone can be part of the digital transformation.

"We must forge a vibrant digital economy and ensure that our people are equipped with the digital skills for the future so that no one is left behind in the midst of our world's digital transformation," he said.

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