DOHA, 15 May 2019 — The Philippines called on fellow Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) members to uphold the spirit of multilateralism, collaboration, and partnership to ensure that the bonds of friendship and cooperation continue to remain strong as it joined 33 other member countries of the ACD in Doha, Qatar for the 16th Meeting of ACD Foreign Ministers and Meeting of Senior Officials from 30 April to 01 May 2019 and the ACD Business Forum on 02 May 2019.

Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations (DFA-OUIER) officer in charge Ambassador Lourdes O. Yparraguirre represented Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and led the Philippine delegation co-headed by Ambassador to Qatar Allan Timbayan, DFA-OUIER Senior Special Assistant Eric Gerardo Tamayo, Consul General Roussel Reyes, Ms. Christine Capistrano, Mr. Archie Baquilod, and Dr. Isagani Cordova of Our Lady of Fatima University. Mr. Robert Amores of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry participated in the ACD Business Forum.

Under the theme “Partners in Progress” the ACD members renewed its commitment to furthering the ACD Vision of an Asian Community 2030 and took note of the progress under 20 cooperation areas under the six pillars of the ACD, namely: (1) Connectivity, (2) Science, Technology and Innovation, (3) Education and Human Resource Development, (4) Interrelation of Food, Energy and Water Security, (5) Culture and Tourism, and (6) Promoting Approaches to Inclusive and Sustainable Development. The Philippines is a co-prime mover of Pillars 2, 3 and 4.

Citing the theme and the call for partnership for progress, the Philippines urged the facilitation of swift and proficient movement of people, goods, and services that will not only improve the living standards of our people but also secure a progressive and prosperous future for them.

The country also called for more investments into human capital development through the enhancement of basic education systems, the offer of more scholarships and trainings, and the conduct of skills-matching to seamlessly converge with the requirements of businesses and the demands of our labor markets. This shall be complemented with the promotion of science, technology, and research to encourage innovation.

The Build Build Build Program was introduced as the flagship initiative aimed at interconnecting the islands across the archipelago through the construction of airports, ports, and inter-island bridges to provide Filipinos with an efficient and first-rate mass transport network, as the Philippines also look to expand energy generation options and sustainable sources of water.

Adopting the Doha Declaration, the Ministers noted that Asia is a major driving force for global economic growth and a key partner in achieving global partnership in development and that small and medium enterprises are the engines for generating growth and prosperity throughout Asia.

The ACD endorsed a plan to reach out to other regional and other sub-regional organizations affirming its support to the rules and regulations of the World Trade Organization. END