HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE

A Written Report Presented to the Senior High School Department in Partial

Fulfillment of the Requirements for
Community Engagement

Submitted by:
LOYD B. AGSAMOSAM
LOVELY V. ESTOPA
RASIEN SAMANTHA BULLON
JESIE JEAN SINOY
JEANNIE ROSE A. CABANAYAN
REPORTER: LOYD B. AGSAMOSAM
ASEAN INTEGRATION INTRODUCTION
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) was preceded by an organization
called the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), an alliance consisting of the Philippines, Malaysia
and Thailand that was formed in 1961. The bloc itself, however, was established on 8 August
1967, when foreign ministers of five countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore,
and Thailand – met at the Thai Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok and signed
the ASEAN Declaration, more commonly known as the Bangkok Declaration. The five foreign
ministers – Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso Ramos of the Philippines, Abdul Razak of
Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand – are considered the
organization's Founding Fathers.
ASEAN has 10 States that includes Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. 1 Observer – Papua New
Guinea & 27 States includes Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada,
China, European Union, India, Indonesia, Japan, Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea,
Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New
Guinea, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, United
States, and Vietnam.

ESTABLISHMENT & DEVELOPMENT OF ASEAN

One of the most significant events in the history of the Southeast Asia was the
formation of Asian. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed in 1967
with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration by the five original member countries Indonesia,
Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
First Asian Summit in Bali in February 1976 the member countries signed the Treaty of
Amity and Co-operation in Southeast Asia (TAC). It spelled out the basic principles for their
relations with one another and the conduct of the association’s program for cooperation.

The fundamental principles are the following:

 Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and
National identity of all nations;
 The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference,
Subversion or coercion;
 Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
 Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
 Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
  Effective co-operation among themselves.
ASEAN MOTTO
The motto of ASEAN is "One Vision, One Identity, One Community".

REPORTER: RASHIEN SAMANTHA S. BULLON

AIMS AND PURPOSES
As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:
1. Economic growth and social progress
To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the
region through joint endeavors in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen
the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations.

2. Regional peace and stability

To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule
of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the
United Nations Charter.

3. Collaboration and assistance

To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest
in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields.

4. Training and research

To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the
educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;

5. Overall improvements
To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and
industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international
commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and
the raising of the living standards of their peoples.

6. Studies
To promote Southeast Asian studies.

7. Cooperation
To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional
organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer
cooperation among themselves.
REPORTER: JEANNIE ROSE A. CABANAYAN
The goals of enhanced ASEAN Connectivity are:
 To enhance integration and cooperation of ASEAN;
 To enhance global competitiveness of ASEAN through stronger production networks;
 To enhance the well-being and livelihood of ASEAN peoples;
 To enhance rules and good governance for ASEAN;
 To enhance connections to economic centres both within the ASEAN region and within
individual
 Member States and narrow the development gaps;
 To enhance local economic and social development;
 To enhance efforts to tackle climate change as well as promote sustainable
development; and
 To address the negative impacts of Connectivity

OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of ASEAN is to promote cooperation in trade and economic growth
and promote peace and stability in the region. The nations of the grouping are also focussed on
assisting each other in fields of agriculture, research , education ,transport and communication.

To achieve the goals, the Master Plan sets out the following objectives for an enhanced
ASEAN Connectivity:

1. Physical Connectivity
To develop an integrated and well-functioning intermodal transport, ICT and energy
networks in ASEAN and the wider region.

Key Strategies to Enhance Physical Connectivity

 Complete the ASEAN Highway Network (AHN)

 Complete the implementation of Singapore Kunming Rail Link (SKRL)Project
 Establish an efficient and integrated inland waterways network
 Accomplish an integrated, efficient and competitive maritime transport system
 Establish integrated and seamless multimodal transport systems to make ASEAN the
transport hub in the East Asia region
 Accelerate the development of ICT infrastructure and services in each of the ASEAN
Member States
 Priorities the processes to resolve institutional issues in ASEAN energy infrastructure
projects
3. Institutional Connectivity
To put in place strategies, agreements, and legal and institutional mechanisms to
effectively realize the ASEAN Connectivity, including those to facilitate trade in goods and
services, and the appropriate types of investment policies and legal frameworks to ensure that
the investments are protected to attract the private sector investments.

Key Strategies to Enhance Institutional Connectivity

 Fully operationalise the three Framework Agreements on transport facilitation, i.e.
ASEAN Framework Agreement on Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of the
Facilitation of Goods in Transit (AFAFGIT), ASEAN Inter-State Transport (AFAFIST) and
ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport (AFAMT).
 Implement initiatives to facilitate inter-state passenger land transportation
 Develop the ASEAN Single Aviation Market (ASAM)
 Develop an ASEAN Single Shipping Market
 Accelerate the free flow of goods within ASEAN region by eliminating barriers to
merchandise trade within the region
 Accelerate the development of an efficient and competitive logistics sector, in
particular transport, telecommunications and other connectivity-related services in the
region
 Substantially improve trade facilitation in the region
 Enhance border management capabilities
 Accelerate further opening up of ASEAN Member States to investments from within and
beyond the region under fair investment rules
 Strengthen institutional capacity in lagging areas in the region and improve regional-
sub-regional coordination of policies, programmes and projects

REPORTER: JESSIE JEAN V. SINOY

4. People-to-People Connectivity
 To develop initiatives that promote and invest in education and life-long
learning, support human resource development, encourage innovation and
entrepreneurship, promote ASEAN cultural exchanges, and promote tourism and
the development of related industries;

Key Strategies to Enhance People-to-People Connectivity

 Promote deeper intra-ASEAN social and cultural understanding
 Encourage greater intra-ASEAN people mobility
 POLITICAL COOPERATION OF ASEAN
The ASEAN political and security dialogue and cooperation aim to promote regional
peace and stability by enhancing regional resilience. Regional resilience shall be achieved by
cooperating in all fields based on the principles of self-confidence, self-reliance, mutual respect,
cooperation, and solidarity, which shall constitute the foundation for a strong and viable
community of nations in Southeast Asia.

MAJOR POLITICAL ACCORD OF ASEAN

 ASEAN Declaration, Bangkok, 8 August 1967
 Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality Declaration, Kuala Lumpur, 27 November 1971
 Declaration of ASEAN Concord, Bali, 24 February 1976
 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Bali, 24 February 1976
 ASEAN Declaration on the South China Sea, Manila, 22 July 1992
 Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, Bangkok, 15 December 1997
 ASEAN Vision 2020, Kuala Lumpur, 15 December 1997
 Declaration on Joint Action to Counter Terrorism, 5 November 2001
 Declaration of ASEAN Concord II, Bali, 7 October 2003
 ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism (ACCT), 11 January 2007
 Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by
2015, 11 January 2007

REPORTER: LOVELY V. ESTOPA

ASEAN COMMUNITY: 3 PILLARS
The three pillars of the ASEAN Community, namely the ASEAN Political-Security
Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community (ASCC), are the most crucial areas deemed necessary for the progress and evolution
of ASEAN and its peoples. The Blueprints of these three communities have been carefully
formulated to detail specific strategic objectives and actions which intend to achieve progress
and positive development in the respective areas.

The three pillars of the ASEAN Community, namely the ASEAN Political-Security
Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community (ASCC), are the most crucial areas deemed necessary for the progress and evolution
of ASEAN and its peoples. The Blueprints of these three communities have been carefully
formulated to detail specific strategic objectives and actions which intend to achieve progress
and positive development in the respective areas. Human rights seem to underpin all the three
pillars of the ASEAN Community although they may not be explicitly stated in the objectives,
strategies or actions of the Blueprints. As human rights encompass the principles of non-
discrimination, equity, justice and human dignity, it is therefore logical that human rights are
directly or indirectly are pertinent to the ASEAN Community.

ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint

The first pillar of ASEAN. The objectives of the APSC are to ensure that the peoples and
Member States of ASEAN live in peace with one another and with the world at large in a just,
democratic and harmonious environment. A cohesive, peaceful, stable and resilient region with
shared responsibility for comprehensive security including a dynamic and outward-looking
region in an increasingly integrated and interdependent world. The full implementation of this
Blueprint is expected to bring about prosperity in the region and protects the interests and
wellbeing of ASEAN people. As the APSC Blueprint seeks to mainly achieve an enhancement in
political stability, democracy and good governance through creating a just, democratic and
harmonious environment, human rights are expectedly apparent in this Blueprint. Respect for
the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is identified in this
Blueprint as one of the main elements in enhancing political development.

This Blueprint contains the majority of ASEAN’s policy commitments to human rights
and democracy and is the Blueprint under which the ASEAN Inter-government Commission on
Human Rights (AICHR) sits.

It aims to establish:
a) A Rules-based Community of Shared Values and Norms
 This part of the Blueprint covers a wide range of objectives such as: promoting the rule
of law, good governance, democracy and peace and stability in the region; promoting
and protecting human rights; combating corruption; adjusting ASEAN’s structure in line
with the ASEAN Charter; and creating an effective code of conduct to diffuse territorial
disputes in the South China Sea.
 Measures proposed to achieve the above aims tend to be general, including research,
educational activities, dialogue, workshops, seminars, networking and “sharing of best
practices.” Only in some areas are specific steps outlined such as encouraging ASEAN
Member States to ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the
establishment of an ASEAN Human Rights Body by 2009.

b) A Cohesive, Peaceful, Stable and Resilient Region with Shared Responsibility for Security
 Creating a peaceful and secure region involves military exchanges within the region and
an early warning system to prevent the escalation of conflicts. The ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF) - a security forum comprised of the 10 ASEAN Member States and 17 other
 nations - is considered a key part of ensuring regional stability. Counter terrorism efforts
are highlighted, as well as developing the capacity of individuals and institutions within
ASEAN to resolve conflict.

c) A Dynamic and Outward-looking Region

 This part of the Blueprint also commits ASEAN to enhancing its ties with external actors
such as the United Nations and regional organizations like the South Asian Association
for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The Blueprint also proposes increased collaboration
between the ASEAN Permanent Missions to the United Nations and other international
organizations to further ASEAN interests within these forums.

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint

The objective of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is to transform ASEAN into a
region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labor, and freer flow of
capital. As mentioned earlier, among the four key characteristics identified in the AEC Blueprint
is “a region of equitable economic development”. Recognizing the importance of equitable
economic development for all peoples, the actions under Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI)
include human resource development, information and communication technologies, capacity
building, poverty reduction and improvement in quality of life. In addition, enabling economic
development throughout ASEAN is also an important objective of the AEC which enhancing the
food, agriculture and forestry trade, the health of the peoples is not forgotten. In fostering a
culture of competitiveness, consumer protection is strengthened through establishing the
ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Consumer Protection and establishing a network of
consumer protection agencies to facilitate information sharing and exchange.

The Economic Blueprint is by far the most developed of the three blueprints and
contains specific steps towards integrating the economies of the ASEAN Member States.

The Blueprint aims to establish:

a) A Single Market and Production Base

 The free flow of goods, services, investment, capital; and skilled labor will be facilitated
though the elimination of trade tariffs within ASEAN; standardizing and digitalizing trade
and customs procedures; harmonizing investment rules and procedures, relaxing
restrictions on capital flows; and facilitating work permissions for skilled ASEAN workers
involved in cross border trade.
  ASEAN is focusing on the integration of 12 priority economic sectors. Each sector has its
own integration “roadmap”. The Blueprint provides for an annual review of these
roadmaps and identifies agriculture, fisheries and forestry as priority industries.

b) A Highly Competitive Economic Region

 ASEAN’s economic competitiveness will improved through; introducing a competition
policy into all ASEAN Member States by 2015, strengthening consumer protection and
intellectual property rights, developing key communication, energy and transport
infrastructure and improving collaboration on air and maritime transportation. The
Blueprint also commits ASEAN to improving its E-Commerce legal framework.

c) A Region of Equitable Economic Development

 Equitable economic development within ASEAN will be achieved through supporting
small – medium business enterprises and encouraging the exchange of technical
expertise between ASEAN Member States.

d) A Region Fully Integrated into the Global Economy

 ASEAN integration into the global economy will be achieved by Member States ensuring
that all their economic relations are “ASEAN Central;” adopting international-standard
production and distribution methods; and providing technical assistance for the less
developed ASEAN Member States to keep up with the more advanced ASEAN
economies.

The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint

The ASCC is adopted to realize a people-oriented, socially responsible. ASEAN
community with the view of achieving solidarity, unity and a common identity as well as
building a sharing and caring society. The characteristics envisaged in the ASCC Blueprint are
human development; social welfare and protection; social justice and rights; ensuring
environmental sustainability; building the ASEAN identity; and narrowing the development gap.
All these issues, except for building the ASEAN identity, pertain directly to human rights.
Besides, areas of cooperation in this community include culture, arts and information, disaster
management, education, environment, health, labour, rural development and poverty
eradication, social welfare and development, youth and civil service cooperation.

This Blueprint seeks to create a more “People-Centered ASEAN.” The Blueprint’s goals
include improving the position of vulnerable social groups, including migrant workers, and
reducing the development gap between ASEAN Member States.
Specifically, the Blueprint aims to promote:

a) Human Development
 Improvements in education, skills and business training and access to science and
information technology are seen as key to human development in ASEAN. Universal
access to primary education has been set as a 2015 goal and efforts will be undertaken
to facilitate access of disadvantaged groups to education. Building the capacity of
ASEAN Member States’ public servants is also identified as a priority area.

b) Social Welfare and Protection

This includes a commitment for ASEAN Member States to intensify efforts to reduce poverty in
their respective countries, this includes strengthening social safety nets, improving food
security and access to healthcare. Disaster preparedness and risk reduction are also seen as key
to social protection.

c) Social Justice and Rights

 This includes steps to protect the rights of women, children, the elderly, persons with
disabilities and migrant workers. Specific actions include: establishing an ASEAN
Commission on Women and Child rights, implementing State obligations under the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, creating ASEAN-wide networks of social workers,
and supporting the work of the Committee on the Protection and Promotion of Rights of
Migrant Workers to develop a binding ASEAN instrument on the migrant worker rights.
Engaging the private sector in improving social justice via Corporate Social Responsibility
also identified as a strategy.
d) Environmental Sustainability
 The Blueprint contains a general commitment to addressing global environmental issues
and more specific commitments towards managing trans-boundary haze and the
movement of hazardous waste and natural resources. Promotion of sustainable
development will be done through the use of more environmentally sound technology,
environmental education and the harmonization of environmental policies and data.

e) An ASEAN Identity
 An ASEAN identity will be developed by promoting the different cultures of Member
States throughout the region. People-to-people exchanges will be increased, particularly
amongst the youth. Engagement with civil society, however, is still restricted to “ASEAN
affiliated” organizations.
f) Narrowing the Development Gap
 This will be done through the existing Initiative for ASEAN Integration, which forms a
part of the 2009-2015 Roadmap.

There are a lot of challenges faced by ASEAN in order to promote the main three pillars.
Firstly, ASEAN has been criticized as an elite-driven and state-centric project. This is illustrated
by the fact that activities and projects of ASEAN are only known among experts, political
leaders, and government officials but little information is disseminated to the citizens and
concerned stakeholders.
This low awareness level is a factor hindering the overall achievement of community
building, as expressed by ASEAN’s Secretary General Le Luong Minh in his remarks on ASEAN’s
community building efforts in March 2013. The next, failure to establish a rules-based
Community of shared values and norms will definitely affect the successful attainment of
equitable economic development among the peoples and social justice and rights, especially
those of the vulnerable and marginalized groups. In addition, as human rights underpin ASEAN
Community, any of the violations will affect APSC, AEC and ASCC, though not necessarily to the
same extent.