Through the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967. The original declaration was signed by the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand which was later on joined by Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam; forming the present ASEAN Member States. The association was founded to promote economic, social and cultural development of the region through cooperative programs, to safeguard the political and economic stability of the region, and to serve as a forum to resolve of intra-regional differences.

This year the ASEAN is observing its 54th anniversary under the chairmanship of Brunei Darussalam with the theme, “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper.” The ASEAN Month Celebration is commemorated every August by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 282 dated 31 July 2017 amending Proclamation No.1008 (s. 1997).

As we celebrate this year’s ASEAN Month, let’s take a look back at the commitments and initiatives of the ASEAN toward a collaborative approach to achieve sustainable food and nutrition security among nations of the region.

According to the 2016 Regional Report on Nutrition Security in ASEAN, 17.9 million of children under-five are stunted, while 5.9 million are wasted, and 4.5 million are overweight while 21 million suffer from anemia and various types of micronutrient deficiencies leading to cognitive and learning deficits, and increased morbidities and mortalities, including those related to non-communicable diseases.

Last 13 November 2017 the leaders of the ASEAN member states adopted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Declaration on Ending All Forms of Malnutrition. The said declaration acknowledges that addressing malnutrition, particularly stunting is of vital importance because nutrition is dubbed as the maker and marker of development which has a great role in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Health Ministers were tasked by the ASEAN leaders to monitor the progress of the declaration and support the delivery of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions.

On 2-4 May 2018, the Philippines led the formulation of the framework of action for nutrition and a strategic plan to implement the Declaration among the 10 ASEAN Member States in Makati City. The “Workshop to Formulate the ASEAN Strategic Framework and Action Plan for Nutrition, 2018-2030” was hosted by the National Nutrition Council (NNC). In the spirit of ASEAN community-building to strengthen cross-ASEAN pillar cooperation and to operationalize the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration, the delegates from the Region representing the ASEAN sectoral bodies of health, nutrition, social welfare, agriculture, and education identified short- and long-term activities.

Ending all forms of malnutrition truly needs collaborative efforts and commitment. The ASEAN with their highest political commitment which gears toward a multi-sectoral approach, manifests that they truly care for their people and prepares for the future in order to prosper as one Southeast Asian Nation. (NO I Liezel Joy D. Reyes)

References:

Association of Southeast Asian Nations. (n.d.). The Founding of ASEAN. Retrieved on 24 August 2021 from https://asean.org/about-asean/the-founding-of-asean/

Official Gazette. (31 July 2017). Amending Proclamation No. 1008 (S. 1997) To Declare the Month of August of Every Year as “ASEAN Month”. Retrieved on 24 August 2021 from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2017/07jul/20170731-PROC-282-RRD.pdf

Scaling Up Nutrition. (2015). ASEAN leaders adopt declaration on ending all forms of malnutrition. Retrieved on 24 August 2021. https://scalingupnutrition.org/news/asean-leaders-adopt-declaration-ending-forms-malnutrition/

National Nutrition Council. (04 June 2018). ASEAN formulates strategic framework and action plan to end all forms of malnutrition. Retrieved on 24 August 2021. https://www.nnc.gov.ph/index.php/39-featured-articles/2521-asean-formulates-strategic-framework-and-action-plan-to-end-all-forms-of-malnutrition.html