DAVAO CITY, August 24 (PIA) - - In line with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a symposium on Socio-Cultural Community and Nation Building was conducted on Thursday (August 24) at Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City.

Socio-cultural community is one of the pillars of the ASEAN Community, along with economic and political-security communities.

The event was initiated by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and ASEAN Society (AS), in support of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)-Philippine Mission to ASEAN.

According to their briefer, the symposium brings the analyses and perspective of eminent academics and government officials in the region on building the pillar.

Pampanga representative and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave the keynote address during the opening program.

The morning session featured panel discussion on Building ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community and Nation Building with Civil Service Commission Chairperson Alicia Bala, ASEAN Deputy Secretary General for ASCC Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, and Senior Adviser on ASEAN, EU Economic and Social Commission for ASIA and the Pacific (ESCAP) Larry Maramis.

Four concurrent fora filled the afternoon session. These include ‘What does ASEAN mean to ASEAN people?’; Networking, innovation, education, social protection: Building ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community for the future; Towards a more resilient and sustainable ASEAN; and Strengthening Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and other sub-regionals towards a stronger ASEAN Community.

It was attended by representatives from government agencies, private institutions, civil society organizations and the academe. (PIA11, Michael Uy)

Main Menu

Secondary Menu