With the integration of the economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations  fast approaching,  Misamis Oriental Rep. Juliette Uy has urged her fellow legislators to form a House special  committee that would determine whether the Philippines is prepared for the threats and opportunities that would arise from the establishment of a single ASEAN market.

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) aims to integrate member-states of the regional grouping into a single market and production base by 2015.  ASEAN groups the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Lao PDR and Cambodia.  

"There is an urgent need to create said special committee to address these concerns vital to the country, particularly on matters relating to cross-cutting Philippine policies and programs covering products and services to be affected by the establishment and existence of the AEC,"  said Uy, a member of the National Unity Party (NUP).

In filing House Resolution 1153, Uy said the  special panel would tackle a wide range of concerns  covering AEC areas of cooperation, such as human resource development and capacity building; recognition of professional qualifications; closer consultation on microeconomic and financial policies; trade financing measures and  enhanced infrastructure and communication connectivity.



Other urgent concerns  are the development of electronic transactions through e-ASEAN; integrating industries across the region to promote regional sourcing, and enhancing private sector involvement for the building of the AEC.

Under HR 1153, the proposed Special Committee on AEC shall: 1) review and recommend revisions to the existing policies and programs or special projects that are essential to the advancement of national interests and to satisfy international commitments relative to the AEC framework; 2) enlist specialists and representatives of the academe, private sector, non-government organizations and such other government offices or agencies as may be necessary, to assist in policy and decision-making;
and 
3) fast-track the creation of laws and policies that would immediately shift our policies in the ASEAN to the "three Cs" - Complementation, Collaboration, and Cooperation, rather than the "big C" of unbridled Competition;

The special committee is also tasked to 4) develop a national mechanism to increase awareness on ASEAN integration and propose policies to encourage citizens and communities to promote actions at the grassroots level;

5) harmonize existing laws of the country's commitment to the AEC; and 6) develop and strengthen the Philippines-ASEAN roadmaps on agriculture and fisheries, industry, energy and human resources Development.

“The AEC will give rise to the free movement of goods, services, investments, skilled labor, and freer flow of capital in the region," she said, but pointed out that "in any effort at regional integration, the threats that accompany opportunities need to be identified and effectively addressed policy-wise."


Uy, noted, for instance,  that one key area the government needs  to urgently address is agriculture, which has remained dismally uncompetitive in relation to other ASEAN economies.

“Our government should address the fact that our products and services would face heavy competition from other imports under an ASEAN single market,” Uy noted.

She pointed out that while "we can have free movement in promoting trade based on comparative advantage, we should provide protection for our products and services from various imports that are subsidized in other ASEAN member-states."