PRESIDENT Duterte on Tuesday emphasized the need for greater cooperation among countries in the Southeast Asian region to defeat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and cushion its impact on their respective countrymen and economy as well as prepare for pandemics.
He said there is a need for the countries to “collaborate and coordinate within our region and beyond.”
The President spoke during a virtual special summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the special ASEAN Plus Three Summit with China, Japan, and South Korea.
Duterte, during the meeting of the ASEAN leaders, said member countries should work together to strengthen the healthcare systems of each country as everyone is faced with the rising number of infections and shortage of vital medicines, medical equipment, and supplies. He said this can be addressed by boosting production and facilitating intra-ASEAN trade of these life-saving necessities.
He said there is also concern about food security, especially rice, amid lockdowns observed by several countries. He said this can be addressed if ASEAN members 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. 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 said.
The President said another measure ASEAN member-states can work on together is on an aggressive development of vaccines and conduct of research and other development initiatives.
“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,” he said adding that the Philippines is ready to join the conduct of clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment.
Earlier this month, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the Philippines is joining the multi-country “Solidarity Trial” the World Health Organization in search for a treatment of COVID-19.
Duterte also said the COVID-19 is not likely to be the last pandemic the world would face and every country must brace for similar events.
“We therefore have to improve and expand existing ASEAN mechanisms to cover public health emergencies. Specifically, we should establish an early warning system for pandemics in the region. This is something vital and concrete that we can do in a collective manner,” he said.
The President welcomed Thailand’s proposal to establish a COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, and thanked Vietnam for its leadership in crafting and coordinating ASEAN’s response to the outbreak.
He also thanked Brunei and Singapore for their assistance to the country.
Duterte made the same call during the ASEAN Plus three Summit as he urged everyone to also consider the “new normal” and not to forget the development of post-pandemic recovery-plans.
“We are still in the early stages of this crisis. But it is never too early to think of a post-pandemic recovery plan. COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We face the specter of a global recession … We need to rebuild our economies and stimulate growth domestically, regionally, and globally. We cannot know yet the full impact of this pandemic. But what is fast becoming obvious is that the world will not and cannot be the same after this crisis,” he said.
