ASEAN leaders hold tele-summit on COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Southeast Asian leaders – in a videoconference – reaffirmed yesterday their commitment to remain united in the effort to control the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and ease its adverse impact on societies and economies, particularly on people’s livelihood.

The special summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), chaired by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, came amid a global panic sparked by the rapid spread of COVID-19. The pandemic has killed thousands and forced lockdowns in major cities across the globe.

Speaking at the virtual summit, President Duterte said “ASEAN must collaborate and coordinate within our region and beyond.”

He said the world is facing a “new and different kind of enemy” that is “upending the totality of our way of life.”

“This virus threatens to exact the highest tolls – on our peoples and our economies. We are forced to impose drastic measures to address this pandemic,” Duterte said.

“These immediate responses, while necessary, could drive our societies and the larger international community further apart. And yet, an effective, strategic response requires that we come together and cooperate even more,” he added.

Duterte noted that COVID-19 has forced governments to require their citizens to keep distance from each other and stay home, reduce socio-economic activities to the barest minimum and close their borders.

“Retreating from the regional and global connections cannot be the answer. To effectively overcome the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN must collaborate and coordinate within our region and beyond,” Duterte said.

He said healthcare systems are under increasing stress as the number of infections rises, resulting in a shortage of vital medicines as well as medical equipment and supplies.

“We need to boost production and facilitate intra-ASEAN trade of these life-saving necessities,” the President said.

Duterte also noted that food security has become a concern at a time when governments are imposing lockdowns to contain COVID-19.

“Our most urgent priority is ensuring sufficient supply of rice for our people. ASEAN must remain open for trade, crisis or no crisis, as no country can stand alone. Let us, therefore, ensure the supply chain connectivity and the smooth flow of goods within our region,” he said.

“Food security is key in maintaining socio-economic and political stability, especially at a time of great difficulty for our people. We can ignore this only at our own risk,” he maintained.

“Without 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. It is therefore imperative that we support vaccine and research and development initiatives,” the President said.

“We should fast-track cooperation with our dialogue partners in this area. For its part, the Philippines is ready to join solidarity with clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment,” he said.

Duterte also cited the need for ASEAN to be ready for future outbreaks, noting that COVID-19 would not be the last pandemic that the world would encounter. He suggested the establishment of an early warning system for pandemics in the region.

“We therefore have to improve and expand existing ASEAN mechanisms to cover public health emergencies,” Duterte said.

Duterte welcomed Thailand’s proposal to form a COVID-19 ASEAN response fund and thanked Brunei and Singapore for providing assistance to the Philippines.

“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,” he said.

In a declaration adopted by ASEAN leaders at the special summit, praises and commendation were bestowed on health workers and other frontline personnel for their efforts and sacrifice.

“We were deeply saddened by the loss of life and the suffering caused by the pandemic. We also commended our medical professionals, healthcare workers and other frontline personnel,” read the declaration.

ASEAN leaders have also agreed to enhance sharing of credible information through multiple forms of media as well as fight disinformation and fake news.

“Encourage the ASEAN information sector to strengthen cooperation in countering misinformation and fake news, as well as to develop a set of guidelines and a possible common platform to facilitate timely sharing of information in ASEAN,” the declaration read. – With Alexis Romero