CEBU CITY - Efforts to realize a seamless integrated and harmonized transport system within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was pushed for by the Philippine government at the start of a gathering of transport experts from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Cebu Monday. Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Assistant Secretary for Planning, George Esguerra said such a transport system could lead to the establishment of an ASEAN Economic Community as a single market and production base characterized by the free movement of goods, services and investments within the 10-member ASEAN region.
In his speech during the opening of the five-day back-to-back meeting, Esguerra pointed out that an efficient and integrated transport system is the key for ASEAN to integrate with the global economy. "It is imperative that we intensify region-wide activities to enhance multimodal transport services, promote barrier-free movement of peoples and goods, further liberalize the air and maritime services, and improve the integration and efficiency of transport and logistics services," he said. Esguerra also underlined the urgent need for the ASEAN member countries to continue, despite the challenges, the work in expediting the implementation of transport facilitation agreements among the ASEAN member countries. Such transport facilitation agreements include the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit (AFAFGT), the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Inter-State Transport (AFAFIST), and the ASEAN Framework on Multimodal Transport (AFAMT).
The agreements aim to bring about an integrated, harmonized transit transport system as well as simplified and harmonized trade and customs regulations for the facilitation of goods movement within ASEAN, while seeking to establish an effective, efficient, integrated and harmonized regional transport system addressing all aspects of inter-state transport. Moreover, the agreements are intended to stimulate the development of adequate smooth, economic and efficient multimodal transport services as required by international trade. DOTC Information Officer Jose Rolan Chicano said that the five-day closed door event from October 11 to 15 will be held at this city's Crown Regency Hotel. Participating will be some 84 delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Burma, Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao, Vietnam and the Philippines.
