PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on July 31 signed Proclamation No. 282 declaring the month of August of every year as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) month. “The Philippines recognizes the need to further promote and heighten awareness of the ASEAN, and instill in the minds of the Filipino people the importance, value and meaning of the ASEAN in achieving and maintaining regional peace and sustainable development,” Mr. Duterte said. A copy of the new proclamation was released by Malacañang on Wednesday, Aug. 9, a day after foreign ministers from the 10-member regional bloc and its partners gathered in Manila for the 50th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. The Philippines chairs this year’s meetings on ASEAN, which was founded on Aug. 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand. Manila is a founding member and has been one of the active members of the ASEAN. — Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
