Press Release No. 189-03
24 April 2003
ON GMA PARTICIPATION AT SPECIAL ASEAN SUMMIT ON SARS

Besides being a gesture of the country’s solidarity with ASEAN member countries that are reeling from the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the region, the Philippines is expected to actively contribute towards collective measures for containing and dealing with this affliction at the upcoming Special ASEAN Summit on SARS scheduled Tuesday next week, 29 April 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Despite her busy schedule, including a planned state visit to the United States, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself will lead the Philippine delegation which include Health Secretary Manuel M. Dayrit and Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Andrea D. Domingo. Expected to join them are officials who are concerned with security and the management of the country’s ports of entry.

The summit was proposed by Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, whose country appears to be the hardest hit ASEAN member.  The Singaporean head of government pointed out that ASEAN’s economies could become depressed – particularly the airline and tourist industries.  He enjoined his counterparts to address the issue collectively and thus generate international confidence that ASEAN is determined to deal with the problem.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople lauded the Singaporean Prime Minister for taking the initiative to bring together the ASEAN community to address the SARS issue.

“PM Goh deserves the appreciation of the ASEAN community for his timely initiative on SARS,” said Secretary Ople, “PM Thaksin too for losing no time in offering Thailand as the venue for the summit”, Ople added.

Except for Indonesia and Myanmar, all of the other ASEAN Heads of State or Government have confirmed their attendance to the summit, including the ASEAN Secretary General.

Thai Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said the agenda will likely touch upon recent developments on SARS, the exchange of technical assistance and information on the treatment of SARS, and cooperation on measures to handle the SARS outbreak.

Other than a harmonization and coordination of what are now non-uniform preventive and corrective measures, the Philippines can be expected to propose a mechanism for the setting up of an ASEAN SARS fund that will be used for further research on the causes and symptoms of the disease, as well as to launch a region-wide information campaign on the nature of the disease and its prevention.