ASEAN Youth Forum not included in official ASEAN events
Department of Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge (DILG OIC) Catalino Cuy said that the ASEAN Youth Forum (AYF) 2017 that is being promulgated to the youth through social media, is not considered as one of the 283 official Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings and activities.
Photo from AYF Facebook Page
Cuy told the youth that the event is not approved by the ASEAN National Organizing Council, and that they should be “more discerning” when it comes to joining events that are organized by certain ASEAN youth organizations.
"We want to make it clear that AYF 2017 [that is] organized by certain groups is not at all related to the ASEAN meetings being hosted by our country. It is a stand-alone activity whose goals are different and separate from the ASEAN,” emphasized Cuy, who is also the chairman of the Committee on Security, Peace and Order, Emergency Preparedness and Response (CSPOEPR).
The DILG OIC urges the youth to be smarter so they would not be used by groups with political agendas.
"The group is said to be recruiting youth volunteers to join their event to make it appear that it is an ASEAN-sanctioned gathering for the youth," Cuy added.
AYF stands firm with its claim
The AYF is supposedly to be held on November 4 to 7 in Quezon City.
With an opening ceremony on the 4th at the Commission on Human Rights SAAC Building, University of the Philippines Diliman Complex, the youth delegates are expected to be in their cultural attires or the official AYF shirt to be sold at the venue for P280.
500 local and international youth delegates are expected to arrive.
Opposing to Cuy, AYF stands with their claim that they are a youth-led, youth-based, autonomous and independent regional civil society organization, although several forums have been made throughout South East Asian countries through the years.
Cuy said that while the government recognizes the right of the forum organizers to conduct the activity, they should restrict from doing activities that may disrupt or paint a negative picture of the country.
First International Summit
The ASEAN 2017 Summit will be held on November 10 to 15 at various locations in Luzon. It is the first international summit of heads of government to be hosted by the Philippines under the Duterte administration and the third time for the Philippines to serve as host. The first was the 31st ASEAN-CCI Council Meeting on November 26, 1987 held in Manila during Cory Aquino's administration while the second was the ASEAN Summit Cebu Organizing Committee (COC) thanksgiving reception on February 26, 2007 in Cebu during Gloria Arroyo's administration.
One of the summits to be held will cater to state leaders, business executives, and business-minded youth, on November 12 to 14 at Solaire Resort and Casino in Paranaque City which is the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.
