Wazzup Pilipinas!
The weeklong meetings among transport ministers and officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila today, with several transport initiatives and policies considered and adopted.
The 22nd ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting (ATM) chaired by Department of Transportation Secretary Art Tugade was preceded by the 42nd Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) and related discussions with dialogue partners, Japan, China and Korea.
The ministers commended the strong start in the implementation of the Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan (KLTSP) 2016-2025 and reaffirmed commitments to intensify cooperation to realize the AEC 2025 vision, which calls for a deeply integrated region that would contribute towards a highly cohesive ASEAN economy.
The Ministers also adopted and launched the ASEAN Road Safety Booklet as a tool for dissemination of key highlights from ASEAN Regional Road Safety Strategy in enhancing public awareness on the importance of the road safety in the region.
“The collective aspiration is to cut down accident rate to almost zero. We have to adopt to solutions such as road engineering,” Minister Khaw Boon Wan of Singapore said in a press conference.
Further, the ATM welcomed the adoption of ASEAN-United States Aviation Cooperation Terms of Reference, which would include areas of aviation safety, efficiency, harmonization, security, as well as economic regulation.
The ministers also applauded the efforts of the Philippines to “Build, Build, Build,” which is consistent with the ASEAN objective of seamless connectivity.
“We aim to enhance trade, attract investments, facilitate movement of goods and people, and boost tourism. With aggressive transportation infrastructure and sustainable transport policies, we hope to ultimately provide a better and higher quality of life to our people,” said DOTr Undersecretary for Maritime Felipe Judan, who represented ATM Chairman Sec. Arthur Tugade.
The 23rd ATM Meeting will take place in Singapore in 2017.
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