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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will push for gender-based streaming as one of the outputs of the ASEAN activities in the country, as the department aims for a people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN, its chief has said.
“Sisikapin natin na ang gender-based streaming ay maging importanteng bahagi sa iba’t ibang layunin ng ASEAN (We will strive hard to make gender-based streaming a significant part of the ASEAN’s goals),” Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said in her keynote speech as she led the launch of the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), held at the Marquee Mall here Tuesday.
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Taguiwalo added that one of these goals is to ensure the promotion and protection of the rights of vulnerable sectors such as women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, internally displaced persons, and indigenous peoples.
In addition, she noted the need to protect the interest of migrant workers and combat malnutrition.
“This is also one of the priorities of the Duterte administration. If he has a war on drug addiction, he also has a war against malnutrition,” Taguiwalo said.
She also stressed the importance of preserving cultural heritage, especially for the future generation.
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She however noted the need to learn the cultures of other ASEAN member states so that the evolution of culture would be dynamic and not static.
“Otherwise, it will die,” she said.
The ASEAN socio-cultural community council, which the DSWD chairs this year, is one of the three ASEAN Community Councils. The other two are the political-security community and the economic community councils.
The ASCC seeks to create a more “people-centered ASEAN” by making the policies of ASEAN members responsive to the welfare and needs of the vulnerable sectors to ensure that they are not left behind, as ASEAN member states partner for change. (PNA)
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