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These are some of the benefits that you as a citizen of the Philippines can reap once the country is fully
integrated to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) membership. The goal of the ASEAN is
to become one of the world’s leading economy like the European union nations. It orders to achieve
that goal it is better to be working together rather than doing it alone and to give the people a chance of
better living.

The Philippines is hosting the 2017 ASEAN summit this month and will be spending P15 billion to make it
a success in order improve better relations with the other nations.

Ten Southeast Asian countries – the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Myanmar,
Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam – all united to improve their economies and to discuss on the
various issues like border disputes, trade agreements and exchange programs i.e education and
employment.

Benefits of a citizen belonging to an ASEAN country member

1. Lower cost of living

The ASEAN Economic Community wants to eliminate if not lessen the taxes exporting between
countries, which will lower the prices of goods.

“Once our borders are open to trade, it is a possible it will lower some of the costs of exporting the
goods and therefore what we’re doing here is increasing the purchasing power of the population,” said
Ronald Mendoza, Dean of the Ateneo School of Government.

This open flow of goods and services means that your money will go much further as products become
cheaper.

2. Improved job opportunities and general well-being

Products or goods not previously available in the country will be easier to access.
A good example would be the availability of items like chocolates, clothes and fruit products not native
to the local country. Before ASEAN, these items i.e apples, oranges and chocolate are hard to come by
and expensive. One has to import to avail these hence, taxes are imposed.

Now apples and chocolates have become more common than the average mangoes or bananas thanks
to the agreements signed by ASEAN members.

Service providers like air transport and healthcare are encouraged to setup foreign offices which means
for us easier access to travel or healthcare.

Increasing foreign investments have always been the goal of the ASEAN in order to be a power house in
the world economy which would mean removing limitations and applying proven international business
operations to the whole region. The more options the more choices citizens have to improve their
quality of life.

3. Better job opportunities and education abroad

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The exchange of free information and skills is essential to the development of the ASEAN charter.
Nationals can work abroad increasing productivity thus more job opportunities for the Overseas Filipino
Workers (OFWs). Facilitation of visas and employment passes for skilled labor will ensure protection for
the workers.

It will not be limited to the workers but to the students as well. ASEAN universities are allowing more
foreign students to study in their campus thus increasing mobility for them in the region.

It will give the opportunity for the young people to open up to new cultures and expand their horizons.
Giving them a fresh perspective to what would be their goal in life. Allowing them to be more
confidence in coursing the future of their home countries.

4. Less hassle in traveling

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ASEAN integration has made it possible to travel to other countries and in the process tourism has
grown exponentially. It has given more opportunities for the tourism industry to promote the local
scenery and earn more revenue.

Traveling to the other ASEAN countries will enable the nationals to realize that they are not alone in the
road to economic success but together as one whole Asian region they can make a difference in world
policy. To aspire for the ASEAN unity.

5. Philippines prosperity

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With the full integration of the ASEAN countries, investments, services, job skills and a free market
would enable the Philippines to have economic prosperity and the benefits will eventually trickle down
to the citizens’ benefit.

To achieve all the goals of the ASEAN, every nationals must work towards a common good and not just
its own country’s well-being. Cooperation is the key ingredient to make ASEAN a success. It is not about
signing treaties or agreements but it is the people to fulfill the dreams of the ASEAN founders.

Once achieved, it will extend beyond borders and will boost national security, international trade,
reducing poverty and economic competitiveness.