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Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Asean leaders to sign pacts significant to RP (4:00 p.m.)
CEBU CITY -- Leaders of the 10-member countries of Southeast Asia will sign several agreements that will have significant benefits to the Philippines, an official said Wednesday.
Heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will meet next week here for the 12th Asean summit.
One of the important agreements is the Cebu declaration for the protection of the rights of migrant workers. Another is the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on nursing services, said Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Luis Cruz.
The agreement on the protection of the rights migrant workers will greatly help the Filipino domestic helpers working in Asean member countries.
It will serve as guide to countries on how should these migrant workers be treated, especially the non-professionals. At the same time countries sending overseas workers are to ensure proper documentation of these workers.
The MRA, on the other hand, will also beneficial to the Philippines, Cruz said because of the number of nurses working in hospitals around the world.
The agreement will allow mutual recognition of medical license especially for nurses. It would be easy for Filipino nurses to practice in other Asean member countries, Cruz said.
Another significant declaration that will be signed during the 12th Asean summit is on the blueprint for the Asean charter and the declaration on the acceleration for the establishment of an Asean community by 2015. This envisions an integrated market and production base.
A Cebu declaration on counter terrorism will also be signed during the summit.
Meanwhile, summit activities are already in full swing at the Cebu International Convention Center for the 12th Asean summit.
The International Broadcasting Center is now operational and will receive various feeds from all meeting venues including CICC, Shangri-la, Waterfront hotel.
Foreign and local media had their first Asean summit briefing Wednesday morning with Ambassador Marciano Paynor, head of the National Organizing Committee (NOC), Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and other officials.
The NOC and the Cebu Provincial Government will have the ceremonial lighting of the CICC Wednesday night. The CICC after several months of delay is finally ready and substantially completed.
On Thursday, members of the Asean Business Advisory Council will meet to address the economic recommendations, which they will be submitting to the heads of state by next week.(Sunnex) |
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