Hanoi (VNA) – In the midst ofuncertainty and seemingly unending health and economic shocks brought about bythe COVID-19 global crisis, the 41st General Assembly of the ASEANInter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) is in a strategic position to serve as aplatform to coordinate and integrate efforts of AIPA member parliaments to helpstem the tide of the contagion, according to a Philippine official.

In an interview with Vietnam News Agency aheadof the teleconferenced AIPA 41 from September 8 to 10, Deputy Speaker of thePhilippine House of Representatives Raneo E. Abu also noted that with AIPAspearheading the regional drive towards the formulation of common legislation,and the institution of frameworks to build a sustainable programme of action,to combat and contain the pandemic, it is imperative that AIPA memberparliaments cooperate and combine resources in putting up a united stand tofight this viral menace.

COVID-19 is a continually evolving and perilous health issue,which so far has eluded quick and enduring solutions by medical experts andvirologists alike, thus, it must be confronted with utmost vigilance, focus andresiliency.

Through AIPA, member parliaments can establishcooperation mechanisms to enable sharing of best practices in fighting COVID-19with fellow AIPA member states. This will greatly enhance the crafting ofcommon legislation which will strengthen the overall capacity of ASEAN regionnations to combat the COVID-19 contagion. 

Medical data sharing among regional neighborcountries, on the viral transmission behaviour patterns and effectivecounter-measures, also helps in the formulation and refinement of anti COVID-19programmes and policies being implemented. 

Through these, AIPA provides a ray of hope,survival and recovery by leading the way towards a cohesive and responsiveASEAN region, in this very trying time of near apocalyptic health threats to theexistence in this world, according to the official.

He went on to say that during this extremelydifficult time of COVID-19 and concomitant severe economic slowdown, thePhilippine House of Representatives fully realises the expediency to adapt anew normal way of life. This entails a massive recalibration of longestablished norms and conduct in doing things in almost all aspects of thedaily lives, in both individual and collective capacities. 

Countries now have to integrate this new normalmindset in crafting legislation, programmes and policies in the continued marchtowards the full implementation of the ASEAN political, economic andsocio-cultural blueprints, in order to achieve the end goal of communitybuilding and regional integration, the official noted. 

The Philippines strongly supports AIPA memberparliaments’ initiatives to craft a fast, resilient, and sustainable recoveryplan to help bring the ASEAN region back on its feet as well asinstitutionalising an effective national preparedness and response mechanismsthat would deal with the present and future pandemics, he said, adding that thebuilding up of a truly impregnable health care system and strengthening of asocial security system that would provide the widest scope and coverage of thepopulation, most specially the marginalised sector, are also urgent measuresduring this critical time. 

He said during these new normal times, digitaltechnology plays a very crucial role in facilitating the movement of people,goods and services in the region. The digital connectivity that is now beingforced upon countries by the pandemic should be viewed as merely hastening theevolution of borderless communities between and among nations, which is one oftheir future goals. 

It is essential that countries review and updateexisting rules and regulations governing digital technology, the officialnoted, adding that to sustain the continued operation of economies, it is aneed to fully optimise and harness the connectivity benefits derived from digitaltechnology. 

He also said the COVID-19 pandemic in ASEAN hasresulted in heightened security measures in individual and regional territorialborders, in order to restrict the entry of coronavirus infected individuals. Onthe same token, ASEAN states should not let their guard down in the campaign tocounter the ever growing and evolving threat of terrorism, extremism,radicalism and transnational crime in the region.

In the interview, the Deputy Speaker of thePhilippine House of Representatives said the National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam,as the AIPA 2020 Chair, under the leadership of its Chairwoman Nguyen Thi KimNgan, capably led AIPA member parliaments in facing the COVID-19 crisis withresolve and determination to overcome, heal and recover as one united,responsive and cohesive region. 

Acting intrepidly to rally AIPA member states,Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, in a March 30, 2020 communication to the headsof AIPA member parliaments, called on the AIPA legislatures to unite inconfronting the specter of the pandemic, which threatened the lives of millionsof people in the ASEAN region. She urged AIPA parliaments to join hands ininstituting measures and five policies designed to coordinate regional effortsin controlling the unprecedented viral outbreak. During the ASEAN leadersinterface with AIPA last June 26, she also stressed the need for a whole ofcountry approach to enable the inclusive healing and recovery of theregion. 

Raneo E. Abu said the House of Representativesof the Philippines highly appreciates the zeal and dedication of the VietnameseNA, as manifested by its aforementioned efforts to enable AIPA to contribute inthe recovery of the ASEAN region from the impact of COVID-19. It also commendsand supports the Vietnamese NA’s call for the continued crafting of commonparliamentary initiatives to sustain and preserve the gains already achievedtowards the full implementation of political, economic and socio-culturalcommunity integration by 2025. 

He also highlighted the Philippine lower house’shighest appreciation for the leadership and brotherhood exhibited by theVietnamese NA during this most difficult chapter of the ASEAN region. 

It firmly believes that AIPA 2020 under the helmof the NA of Vietnam will continue to play a major role to make the ASEANregion resilient, cohesive, responsive and undaunted, no matter what challengesmember countries have to face in the coming years, according to the official./.