12 January 2015 - In order to raise awareness among the Filipino Community in Vientiane about the preparations being undertaken for the upcoming integration of ASEAN Member countries by year 2015 with the establishment of an ASEAN Community, the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane conducted a briefing on the said subject during the Filipino Community meeting held on 20 November 2014 at the Embassy premises.
Third Secretary and Vice Consul Jose Carlo Morales started the presentation with a brief background on the ASEAN: its beginnings, its goals and objectives as a regional organization, and its resolution to establish a common market where there would be free movement of goods, skilled labor, services, capital, and investments. Mr. Morales informed the attendees of the positive effects the ASEAN integration would have, especially regarding the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers – with respect to goods, the mutual recognition by ASEAN countries of certificates – with respect to educational attainment and professions, and the financial integration, which would harmonize several aspects of banking among ASEAN nations, benefitting Filipino nationals residing or working abroad.
Philippine Ambassador to Lao People’s Democratic Republic Maria Lumen B. Isleta discussed other aspects of the ASEAN integration: the kinds of skilled labor specified for the framework of the integration, the steps which other ASEAN countries are undertaking in preparation for the said integration, as well as efforts to raise awareness and discuss expectations for the ASEAN Community.
The briefing was followed by an open forum. Questions on the effects on the market integration, particularly on employment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were raised by the Filipino community members. Ambassador Isleta assured the attendees that the market integration would be gradually implemented and that foreign labor would essentially remain subject to domestic requirements as it is now. She also thanked the OFWs in Laos for attending the meeting and encouraged them to inform other Filipinos and raise awareness about the ASEAN Community. END