By REGINA BENGCO
MALAYA
Nov. 19, 2007
PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday left for Singapore for the 13th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, where she said she will advance the country’s interests on human rights, environmental protection and economic development.
Arroyo left the NAIA Centennial Terminal at 2:40 p.m. on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 501. She arrived in Singapore at 6:25 p.m. and went directly to the Fullerton Hotel where she is billeted.
Asean is making progress on initiatives made in the Asean summit in the Philippines such as the Asean charter, the bid for stronger environmental standards, the pursuit of energy self-sufficiency, and the creation of an Asean human rights body.
“We are determined to complete in Singapore what we started in Cebu,” she said.
Today, Arroyo will join the BIMP-EAGA summit and the informal working dinner of the Asean heads of state.
Tomorrow, she will attend the Asean summit plenary and the group photo and the working lunch between heads of state and the Asean business leaders.
On the same day, she will also attend the signing ceremony of the Asean charter and the outcome documents of the summit such as the Asean Declaration on Environmental Sustainability, Asean Declaration on the 13th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the 3rd Session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol-Asean Charter.
Shortly afterward, she will attend the 11th Asean Plus Three Summit, the Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of Asean Plus Three Cooperation, the 11th China-Asean Summit, and the signing ceremony of the Outcome Documents of the 11th Asean-China Summit (Memorandum of Understanding between the People’s Republic of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Strengthening Sanitary and Phitosanitary Cooperation).
In the evening, she will join other Asean heads of state in the gala dinner hosted by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife.
On Wednesday, Arroyo will attend the 11th Asean-Japan Summit, the 11th Asean-Republic of Korea Summit, the signing ceremony of the outcome documents of the 11th Asean-Republic of Korea Summit (Agreement on Trade in Services under the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation among the Governments of the Member Countries of Asean and the Republic of Korea and the Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing an Asean-Korea Centre), and the 6th Asean-India Summit.
She will join other heads of state in a working lunch before proceeding to the Third East Asia Summit. She will also be present at the signing of the outcome documents of the Third East Asia Summit (Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment).
In the evening, she will attend the dinner hosted by Singaporean President S.R. Nathan.
On Thursday, Arroyo will attend the Asean-European Union Commemorative Summit and join other leaders in the lunch hosted by Prime Minister Lee.
Sen. Manuel Roxas III said Malacañang should disclose the contents of the economic agreement that the Asean will forge with Japan, warning it could be another Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) that will tie the country to one-sided commitments.
The ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP) that is expected to be finalized during the Asean summit.
Roxas said AJCEP is now is undergoing “legal scrutiny” and may be ready for signing early next year.
He said it might be better for government to consult the Senate on the prospective agreement and provide it with copies of the draft prior to its signing and formal submission for ratification.
He said if AJCEP will have the same breadth and scope as JPEPA, then it should be considered as a treaty and should pass the Senate’s scrutiny before ratification.
He said sectors to be affected should also be consulted in the process of negotiating and finalizing the agreement.
He added a definitive statement on the two agreements’ relationship must be released, in particular, if AJCEP will eventually replace or supersede JPEPA.
JPEPA, which was signed in Helsinki last year, is undergoing scrutiny by the Senate committees on foreign relations and on trade and commerce prior to the Senate’s concurrence.
As yet, the government side has failed to justify the benefits to be gained from JPEPA vis-à-vis its detrimental effect to certain sectors of the economy.
Roxas has debunked government claims that JPEPA is just an executive agreement, insisting it needs Senate concurrence.
The Asian Development Bank expressed support to the Asean blueprint for economic integration and cooperation.
The blueprint is among declarations expected to be signed at the summit. – With Dennis Gadil and Anthony Ian Cruz