CEBU, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. again emphasized how events across the world have impacted Southeast Asia, as he and other leaders gathered at the Shangri-La Mactan in Cebu for the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit retreat session on Friday, May 8.

“In an increasingly connected world, instability in one part of the globe will quickly reverberate across supply chains, financial markets, and the daily lives of our peoples. We have seen firsthand the vulnerability of our nations to external factors,” Marcos said in his opening statement during the retreat session.

The Philippine President, leader of a country under a national energy emergency, noted that even if tensions in the Middle East ease, “the damage to critical infrastructure, to vital systems, and trust in general will continue to be felt for years to come.”

Marcos noted this was not a surprise for the bloc, since the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 “recognized that major power rivalries, supply chain disruptions, and resource security issues will test our region.”

The Philippines proposes what it calls the “integrated LEAD–SAIL–RISE Framework” to guide the bloc’s strategy — a rules-based and resilient Political-Security Community, integrated and innovation-led Economic Community, and people-centered and inclusive Socio-Cultural Community.

Watch Marcos’ opening statement in the video above. – Rappler.com