SFA Locsin Calls on ASEAN to Build Back Better and Healthier at Foreign Ministers’ First Meeting for the Year

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. delivers his intervention during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Retreat on 21 January 2021.

PASAY CITY 22 January 2021 – Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. called on ASEAN to build back better and healthier in 2021, as foreign ministers held their first meeting for the year.

During the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat held via video conference on 21 January 2021, Secretary Locsin announced that the Philippines will contribute USD100,000 to the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund (ACRF). Acting Undersecretary Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, the Philippines’ Leader to the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting, earlier proposed to tap the ACRF for the procurement of vaccines and medical supplies, and even the training of health personnel and other frontliners.

“We must take the challenges of 2020 in stride and strive to build back better, healthier, and more prosperous societies through deeper engagements on vital issues uniting ASEAN,” Secretary Locsin said.

“We must maintain the momentum of our engagements in 2020 into 2021, particularly in our efforts to respond to the challenges of COVID-19,” the country’s top diplomat said.

It was the first meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers for the year under the chairmanship of Brunei Darussalam.

Secretary Locsin expressed support for Brunei as the new ASEAN Chair, and said its theme - We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper - “is a fitting anchor for our regional efforts in the service of our peoples, in strengthening ASEAN mechanisms and its preparedness to hurdle challenges.”

He also recognized ASEAN external partners and said they all greatly contributed to ASEAN COVID-19 response and recovery.

He said the Philippines is now on the third phase of its action plan against COVID-19, involving a strategy that combines response and recovery by a gradual opening of the economy with the least risk to public health.

On the South China Sea dispute, Secretary Locsin said the Philippines will press harder for the completion of the second reading of the Single Draft Negotiating Text of the negotiations on the Code of Conduct.

The full text of Secretary Locsin’ s interventions may be accessed here: bit.ly/3qH41Kn and bit.ly/2Y3R0hS END