ASEAN INTEGRATION IN

THE PHILIPPINES

KATHRINE RAMOS – ANGELES

SR. TESD Specialist
Technical education and skills development authority (TESDA)
OUTLINE

 What is the ASEAN Integration?

 ASEAN Economic Community
 ASEAN MRA’s
 MRA’s Goal and Objectives
 Impact in Education
 Benefits of ASEAN Integration
 Impact in the Philippines
ASEAN Integration

 The ASEAN Community started when 5Southeast Asian leaders decided to form a union to foster
the bond within their respective nations. The countries included in this union are Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Over the past years more countries have joined
the ASEAN union including Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
 ASEAN Integration

 This union aims to help strengthen  All of the plans made by the ASEAN union for the
and stabilize each country’s betterment of each member country are integrated in
economic growth and development. the ASEAN Economic Blueprint.

 Supposedly, the leaders of the

Economic Growth
ASEAN union have envisioned
the completion of their goals by
Socio – cultural the year 2020 but they changed it
development
to 2015 instead, to make sure that
Political Security they can fast track the growth
and development of their
countries.
 ASEAN Integration

 Through the ASEAN integration, member countries support each other in preventing the likes of
rampant piracy, terrorism and drug trafficking. This initiative also aims to foster economic
development meaning more job opportunities, more investors to develop industries, promote social
responsibilities in times of disaster and more opportunities for education.
ASEAN Economic Community

 The Association of Southeast Asian Nation or ASEAN is

an organization of ten member countries namely Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The
main emphasis of the organization has been regional
cooperation, for the mutual benefits of all member
countries. In order to capitalize on the regional
cooperation, leaders of ASEAN member countries
decided to implement the ASEAN Economic Community
(AEC) by 2015.
 ASEAN Economic Community

 The establishment of the ASEAN Economic

Community (AEC) in 2015 is a major milestone in
the regional economic integration agenda in
ASEAN, offering opportunities in the form of a
huge market of US$ 2.6 trillion and over 622
million people. In 2014, AEC was collectively the
third largest economy in Asia and the seventh
largest in the world.
ASEAN Economic Community
ASEAN Economic Community

 Education is one of the many industries that will be affected

by the AEC.
 Education supports the development of AEC
 In this regard, the leaders of ASEAN focus on enhancing
regional cooperation in the education sector.
 ASEAN Economic Community

 The implementation of AEC in 2015 will significantly increase

intra - regional flow of university graduates, in the ASEAN
countries.
 The responsibility of education is to make the lives of as many
people as possible better, to help make sure no one gets left behind,
and everyone is prepared to face the opportunities and challenges
of the regional economy.
 However, the education systems among the ASEAN countries are
different from one another.
 ASEAN 2015 Regional Economic
Integration
 Areas of Cooperation
 Human Resources Development and capacity building;
 Recognition of Professional Qualifications
 Closer consultation on macroeconomic and financial policies;
 Trade financing measures;
 Enhance infrastructure and communications connectivity;
 Development of electronic transactions through e-ASEAN
 Integrating industries across the region to promote regional sourcing, and
 Enhancing private sector involvement for the building of AEC
 ASEAN MRAs
 ASEAN Members States (AMS) aim to realize the free flow of skilled
labour within ASEAN by 2015 as embodied in the Economic Blueprint,
one of the three blueprints adopted for the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC). 
 Thus far, a Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) Framework has
been formalized among AMS for the mutual recognition of education
and experiences obtained in 7 priority sectors - architectural services,
surveying, medical practitioners, dental practitioners, engineering
services, nursing and accounting services, and tourism professionals.
 The 8th MRA on Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) aims to facilitate
the mobility of tourism professionals within ASEAN based on
competence-based tourism qualifications.
 Mutual Recognition Arrangements
 Accountancy Services - Feb. ’09
 Medical Practitioners - Aug. ’08
 Nursing Services - Dec. ‘06
 Electronic and Electrical Equipment - Jan. ‘05
 Dental Practitioners - Aug. ‘08
 Engineering Services - Dec. ’05
 Surveying / Architecture - Sep. ’07
 Tourism Professionals - Nov. ’12
 MRA Objectives

 To facilitate mobility of Tourism Professionals / Workers;

 To exchange information on best practices in competency
– based education and training for Tourism Professionals;
and
 To provide opportunities for cooperation and capacity
building across ASEAN member countries.
ASEAN Economic Community

 The AEC Blueprint 2025, adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 27th
ASEAN Summit on 22 November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
provides broad directions through strategic measures for the AEC
from 2016 to 2025. Along with the ASEAN Community Vision 2025,
and the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint
2025 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint
2025, the AEC Blueprint 2025 forms part of ASEAN 2025: Forging
Ahead Together. It succeeded the AEC Blueprint (2008-2015), which
was adopted in 2007.
 ASEAN Economic Community

 The AEC Blueprint 2025 is aimed towards achieving the

vision of having an AEC by 2025 that is highly
integrated and cohesive; competitive, innovative and
dynamic; with enhanced connectivity and sectoral
cooperation; and a more resilient, inclusive, and people-
oriented, people-centred community, integrated with the
global economy
 ASEAN Economic Community
 The AEC Blueprint 2025 consists of five interrelated and
mutually reinforcing characteristics, namely: (i) A Highly
Integrated and Cohesive Economy; (ii) A Competitive,
Innovative, and Dynamic ASEAN; (iii) Enhanced
Connectivity and Sectoral Cooperation; (iv) A Resilient,
Inclusive, People-Oriented, and People-Centred ASEAN;
and (v) A Global ASEAN. These characteristics support the
vision for the AEC as envisaged in the ASEAN Community
Vision 2025.
 ASEAN Economic Community
 The AEC Blueprint 2025 sets out the strategic measures under each of
the five characteristics of AEC 2025. To operationalise the Blueprint’s
implementation, these strategic measures will be further elaborated in
and implemented through the work plans of various sectoral bodies in
ASEAN. The sectoral work plans will be reviewed and updated
periodically to ensure their relevance and effectiveness. Partnership
arrangements with the private sector, industry associations and the wider
community at the regional and national levels will also be actively sought
and fostered to ensure an inclusive and participatory approach to the
integration process. Institutions will be strengthened and enhanced
approaches to monitoring and public outreach will likewise be developed
to support the effective implementation of the Blueprint.
The AEC 2025 Consolidated Strategic Action Plan
(CSAP) comprises of key action lines that will
operationalise the strategic measures in the AEC
Blueprint 2025. It takes into account the relevant
sectoral workplans, and will be reviewed periodically
to account for developments in each sector.
 The AEC Blueprint 2025 will lead towards an ASEAN
that is more proactive, having had in place the structure
and frameworks to operate as an economic community,
cultivating its collective identity and strength to engage
with the world, responding to new developments, and
seizing new opportunities. The new Blueprint will not
only ensure that the 10 ASEAN Member States are
economically integrated, but are also sustainably and
gainfully integrated in the global economy, thus
contributing to the goal of shared prosperity.
Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA)

 Mutual Recognition Arrangements are arrangements

between two or more parties to mutually recognize or
accept some or all aspects of one another’s conformity
assessment results (in our case tourism certificates and
qualifications). 
 MRA’s Goal and Objectives
 The purpose of an MRA is to facilitate trade
 Each country has its own regulations and administrative
procedures
 AN MRA is a mechanism by which regulations, standards and
procedures can be conformed
 Initially bi-lateral, then mature to multi-lateral (e.g. EU, ASEAN)
 In order to facilitate international trade, an MRA sets out an
agreement by which countries can mutually recognize each other’s
conformity assessments.
 Each MRA tends to be sector specific.
 Benefits of ASEAN INtegration

 Easier and Cheaper Travel

options for everyone
Benefits of ASEAN Integration

 Cheaper goods and

services
Tax on imported
goods is lowered or even
eliminated
 Benefits of ASEAN Integration

 More and better jobs

Benefits of ASEAN Integration

 More study options

 Benefits of ASEAN Integration

 The Philippines Improved

Benefits of a Citizen belonging to an
ASEAN Country Member

 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.
Benefits of a Citizen belonging to an ASEAN
Country Member

 Improved job opportunities and general

well-being
Products or goods not previously
available in the country will be easier to access.
 Benefits of a Citizen belonging to an ASEAN
Country Member

 Better job opportunities and education

abroad
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.
Benefits of a Citizen belonging to an ASEAN
Country Member

 Less Hassle in Travelling

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.
 Benefits of a Citizen belonging to an ASEAN
Country Member

 Philippines Prosperity
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.
 Benefits of a Citizen belonging to an ASEAN
Country Member

 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.
 Impact in the Philippines
 The ASEAN Integration would have a direct impact on our lives. It will
become a free trade, free trade of goods and services.
 Education, HR Technology, training and Development would be the trend
as we learn to adapt, overhaul and create new cultures to cater for the
incoming varying nationalities.
 But with Good, comes also the other story, Competition will be the name
of the game.
 People must continually develop themselves to stay on top of their career.
People believe that it happens too soon. The real question is, are we
prepared?
Call to Action

Be HOSPITABLE …..
 H Helpful
O Optimistic
S Smart-er
P Patient
Be ….. I Industry relevant
T TESDA Compliant
A ASEAN friendly
B Better
L Learned
E Eager
ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement
to Tourism & Hospitality Education