ASEAN, dapat na magpakita ng “commitment” sa free trade-PBBM

DAPAT nang magpakita ng kanilang commitment ang  ASEAN member states para sa prinsipyo ng free trade o malayang kalakalan.

Ang malayang kalakalan  ay isang patakaran kung saan ang isang pamahalaan ay hindi nangingilala o walang kinikilingan o walang diskriminasyon laban sa mga pag-aangkat ng mga kalakal, o kaya ay hindi nanghihimasok sa mga pagluluwas ng mga kalakal.

Sa  isinagawang plenary session ng  42nd ASEAN Summit, binanggit ni Pangulong Marcos  ang pagsisikap ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas na  ipatupad ang  Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.

“ASEAN should demonstrate its commitment to the principle of free trade and to the multilateral trading system. I am pleased to announce that the Philippines has deposited its instrument of ratification for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP agreement,” ayon kay Pangulong Marcos.

Kumpiyansa ang Pangulo na susuportahan ng RCEP  ang  pagkakasama ng mga maliliit na negosyo sa  international economy.

“We are optimistic that RCEP will serve as an engine of growth that will help build more resilient supply chains to support the integration of micro, medium, and small scale establishments into the global economy,” dagdag na pahayag nito.

Noong nakaraang buwan, inaprubahan ni Pangulong  Marcos ang panukalang executive order na naglalayong  “operationalizing the country’s tariff commitments under the RCEP. ”

Ayon kay National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, makatutulong ito na maisulong ang pagsisikap ng administrasyon “toward achieving deep social and economic change leading to a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Philippines.”

Samantala, sinabi  pa ni Pangulong Marcos na layon ng Pilipinas na palakasin ang food security sa kabila ng  global challenges.

“We must ensure that our food and energy systems are resilient in the face of supply and price fluctuations triggered by geopolitical instability and conflict, pandemics, climate change, logistic chain disruptions, and fuel shortages,” ayon sa Chief Executive.

“The Philippines aims to strengthen food security and production efficiency [through] the use of new agricultural technologies, upgrading technical and vocational education and training, and adapting climate- and disaster-resilient technologies,” dagdag na wika nito.

Binigyang diin ng Pangulo ang pangangailangan para sa  ASEAN na palakasin ang cross-border connectivity at interoperability ng  digital framework nito.

“We must forge a vibrant digital economy and ensure that our people are equipped with the digital scales [of] the future so that no one is left behind in the midst of our world’s digital transformation,” aniya pa rin.  (Daris Jose)