19 March 2014 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) convened the 6^th ASEAN Matters Technical Board (AMTB) Meeting of the Philippine Council for Regional Cooperation (PCRC) on March 17.

During the meeting, representatives from 44 government agencies identified Philippine priorities and advocacies for the 24^th ASEAN Summit which will be held from May 10 to 11 in Myanmar. AMTB members represent ASEAN’s three community pillars, namely: ASEAN Political-Security Community; ASEAN Economic Community; and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

In his welcome remarks, DFA Undersecretary for Policy Evan P. Garcia enjoined the AMTB members to be forward-looking in terms of identifying and advancing Philippine priorities. He said Philippine priorities should be guided not only by the agenda of the upcoming 24^th ASEAN Summit but must also take into consideration the formation of the ASEAN Community in 2015, the ongoing discussions on ASEAN’s Post-2015 Vision, the Post-Millennium Development Goals agenda, and the Philippines’ Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017, which will coincide with ASEAN’s 50^th Founding Anniversary. END