07 October 2014 - Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman led the Philippine delegation to the 12th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Council (ASCC) Meeting held on September 29 in Bagan, Myanmar.
The meeting reviewed the activities conducted by the socio-cultural pillar in 2014 and considered the framing of the socio-cultural community post 2015.
Speaking at the meeting, Myanmar Vice-President Dr. Sai Mauk Kham underlined the importance of cooperation in the socio-cultural pillar in ensuring the emergence of a united and harmonious ASEAN Community by 2015. He said the “challenges of ASEAN today are complex, multifaceted and transnational in nature, which call for a more coordinated socio-cultural pillar.”
In her opening remarks, DSWD Secretary Soliman thanked the ASEAN member countries for the assistance rendered to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. She stressed the importance of strengthening regional cooperation in disaster response and mitigation and called for more collaboration on the environment. END