ASEAN in FOCUS: The next President should focus on Mindanao

(Eagle News) — The May 9 Philippine elections is a very crucial event, with the next Philippine president steering the country in this era of the ASEAN community.

On May 9, and the period after that the world will focus on this Southeast Asian country, and the next President’s moves would be under a microscope.

In this excerpt from Asean in Focus weekend edition aired on May 7, two prominent figures in the scene of political analysis:  former Philippine Ambassador Jose V. Romero Jr., Ph.D, Chairman and President Philippine Council for Foreign Relations and the  Asian Center for Study of Democracy, and University of the Philippines Professor Aries Arugay., Executive Director of the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, give their views on the Philippine elections in the context of the ASEAN Community.

With the Philippines hosting the next ASEAN Summit in 2017 as the ASEAN celebrates its 50th anniversary, Ambassador Romero stresses how the next President should focus on developing Mindanao.

Prof. Arugay, on the other hand, says making people the focus of development is another goal, and that ASEAN Centrality is a critical principle here.

Dr. Carlos Tabunda Jr., of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) interviews both Ambassador Romero and Prof. Arugay in this episode.

ASEAN in Focus weekend edition gives different perspectives of various experts on issues affecting the Philippines as a member of the ASEAN community.  It airs every Saturday, 2:00 to 3:00 pm, with replays every Sunday, at 11 p.m.