ASEAN hosting an 'investment' to boost PH standings - Adiong

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The hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits is an investment to boost the country's presence, a lawmaker said on Sunday as the global meet officially started.

While the government's spending of P22.9 billion for the hosting has raised questions from various sectors, Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Adiong said that it's the country's duty to sustain the cooperation among the Southeast Asia region through the event.

"Tayo po ‘yung chair ng ASEAN, so kailangan na hindi natin ito balewalain. I think it's part of our obligation to build a strong community of nations, lalong lalo na itong mga kapitbahay natin, kung saan very strong ang ating bilateral economic trade. Kailangan natin sustentuhin ang ganitong klaseng kooperasyon na ito," he told Super Radyo dzBB.

(We currently chair ASEAN, so we should not take this lightly. I believe it's part of our obligation to build a strong community of nations, especially these neighbors of ours, where our bilateral economic trade is very strong. We need to sustain this kind of cooperation.)

"I think this is part of an investment for the country to boost its international standing in relation to our being part of the ASEAN corridor," he added.

Gathered in Manila, the leaders of the 11 ASEAN countries are expected to discuss the Middle East crisis, food security, and transnational crimes, among other issues.

Leaders from outside the region, including Australia, Canada, Brazil, and the US, are also present.

For his part, Adiong said the country cannot afford to compromise its hosting responsibility.

"You also have to remember na ‘yung ating mga bisita ay mga heads of states ng mga countries. You really cannot give any inch of compromise na magkaroon impossible security breach. Kailangan natin i-secure sila," he said.

(You also have to remember that our guests are heads of states of countries. You really cannot give any inch of compromise for a security breach to happen. We need to secure them.)

Ahead of the summit, the Philippines and Canada concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA), with both countries aiming to sign the pact in 2027.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have discussed strengthening agricultural cooperation to protect local farms and support food security.

Marcos earlier said the hosting of the ASEAN summit "is an important opportunity to create more jobs, support local businesses and open new doors for our people." —RF, GMA News