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ARCHIVE – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. ROBINSON CHILD / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday called on Australia and the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to redouble efforts to address extreme poverty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a speech at the second biennial Asean-Australia online summit, Duterte cited World Bank estimates of an additional 150 million people who will be in extreme poverty next year.
“Our duty as governments, therefore, is clear: we must redouble our collective efforts to tackle extreme poverty. We must accelerate the socio-economic recovery of our region, ”Duterte said.
“The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement provide key frameworks that will enable a more dynamic recovery of our economies,” he added.
Duterte also said that the country recognizes “the role of women in post-pandemic recovery efforts.”
“The economic and social imperatives for these are clear: Empowered women support economic growth and resilience,” she continued.
Fight against transnational crimes
The president also urged member states and Australia to combat transnational crime and terrorism.
“We must not give up on our collective efforts to combat terrorism and transnational crime. We must continue to work together to deter foreign terrorist fighters. We must address the root causes of violent extremism and radicalization, ”he said.
“We must also increase our long-standing cooperation on law enforcement, immigration and customs matters,” Duterte added.
Duterte then underscored preventing the proliferation of illegal drugs, online child abuse and exploitation, human trafficking and other cybercrimes.
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