Asean launch in Davao ‘morale boost’ to Mindanaoans—Palace

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The official launch of the Philippines’ chairmanship of the 2017 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Davao City, hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte, is a “symbolic morale boost” to the people of Mindanao, Malacañang said on Sunday.

“This is very symbolic because alam natin na ang ating Pangulo subscribes to decentralization, at ito po ay magpapataas ng morale ng mga kababayan natin dito sa Mindanao at sa Visayas dahil posible pala na iyong mga kick-off, iyong mga launching ng malalaking event  tulad nito ay posibleng gawin sa mga lugar na nasa labas ng Metro Manila,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said over state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

(This is very symbolic because we know that our President subscribes to decentralization, and this boosts the morale of the Mindanaoans and Visayans because it’s possible that we can have a kick-off and a launch of such a huge event as this outside Metro Manila.)

The Philippines’ Asean chairmanship is set to be formally launched at 3 p.m. Sunday at the SMX Convention Center in Davao. This year marks the 10-member organization’s 50^th anniversary.

The “festive” launch will be attended by businessmen, members of the Cabinet and the diplomatic corps, Andanar said.

A Miss Universe cultural fashion show will also be held in Davao later this month.

Last week, no less than Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in the southern city and paid a visit to President Duterte’s home where the two leaders had breakfast. Abe also sampled durian after the naming of a Philippine Eagle in his honor. JE/rga

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