SOURCE:

  5 May 2017

• ·The Jakarta Post
• ·Liza Yosephine
• ·THE JAKARTA POST/JAKARTA

ASEAN entities and its secretariat stage forum for first time to discuss public engagement Lack of information and public education remain a challenge

Amid challenges involved with raising awareness about ASEAN to benefit society, the bloc secretariat in Jakartaon Thursday for the first time gathered all its entities to boost efforts to realize its longed-for “people-centered, people orientated” vision.

Representatives of some 60 entities that are accredited, or currently seeking accreditation, to ASEAN sat together with the ASEAN Secretariat in a forum on Thursday in Jakarta that focused on making such entities more familiar and what ASEAN and its cooperation mechanism can do for the region.

The entities consist of nongovernmental organizations, business organizations, academic associations, think tanks and other community-based groups, like the ASEAN Foundation, the ASEAN Disability Foundation (ADF) and the International Federation of Non-Government for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse (IFNGO).

ASEAN has been engaging with a total of 84 entities that support the ASEAN Charter, in particular its purposes and principles, which include peace-orientated values in creating regional resilience — some of which operate in Indonesia, while others are spread across the 10 member nations. However, less is known about their existence and roles.

Speaking to the forum, ASEAN’s deputy secretary-general for community and corporate affairs, AKP Mochtan, highlighted the importance to step up efforts to deliver ASEAN’s benefits that could be felt by the people.

Mochtan argued that while the bloc has “gone from strength to strength” since its establishment in 1967, its relevance remains murky to society.

“The challenge in making people realize the benefits of ASEAN is immense,” Mochtan said, reminding the audience that the bloc’s golden jubilee this year must be used as momentum to forge closer cooperation between the secretariat and its entities to engage society.

Philippine Ambassador to ASEAN Elizabeth Buensuceso, who delivered her remarks to the audience via a video message, lauded the gathering for providing for the first time a platform for dialogue between the secretariat and all its entities, saying that it could nurture efforts to advance community building in line with the principles of ASEAN.

“Constructive and meaningful dialogue among us ensures that different perspectives are expressed and important issues come to the surface,” Buensuceso added.

With the Philippines currently chairing the bloc, she said the country this year aims to deliver the benefits of ASEAN right to the people it serves, while it is also ready to engage with external partners in businesses, regional groups and other countries to advance its principles and vision.

“First, we would like to pursue, or realize, a people-centered, people-oriented community, which means we will give attention, or pay tribute, to vulnerable members of society,” Buensuceso said.

ASEAN boasts the maintenance of regional peace and stability as its biggest achievement, arguing that it directly fosters the economic development and sociocultural advancement of its people.

On Thursday, the 60 entities and the ASEAN Secretariat also took part in a closed-door discussion on privileges, obligations and guidelines.

ASEAN Secretariat community affairs directorate director, Lee Yoong Yoong, said the challenges in engaging society remain in the dissemination of information, lack of public education and pessimism over ASEAN’s work.

He underlined the importance of the entities as an extension of ASEAN that stretches to the ground as it works directly with the people. For example, a business entity could assist agricultural stakeholders in taking advantage of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) to boost economic opportunities for farmers, while at the same time boost intra-ASEAN trade.

“As the policy makers come out with policy to benefit the people of ASEAN, you do need a channel to reach out to the people and through these [entities] is one area,” Yoong Yoong told The Jakarta Post. “At the end of it, we are talking about how community building can benefit the people.”