1) Senior officials from Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam have gathered in Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines for the 11th Senior Officials Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication of the ASEAN. 2) The meeting aims to discuss policies to include the poor in promoting economic interdependence and growth across Southeast Asia through effective enterprise models that address challenges in the ASEAN context. 3) Representatives from the participating countries will present policies and programs from their nations, and engage with non-government organizations to discuss best practices in engaging the poor through economic opportunities.

1. Office of the President of the Philippines
NATIONAL ANTI-POVERTY COMMISSION
Water System Training Center, MWSS-LWUA Complex, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City
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PRESS RELEASE
June 16, 2014
NAPC Welcomes Delegates of the 11th SOMRDPE
Senior officials and other delegates from the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam have arrived in Panglao Island, Bohol, for the 11th
Senior Officials Meeting
on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (SOMRDPE) of the ASEAN.
The Philippines, through the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), is hosting this year’s event with the
theme “Enabling Enterprise for Economic Inclusion of the Poor.”
As Southeast Asian nations accelerate the establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015, senior officials
on rural development agencies from the ASEAN Member States come together to discuss policies on
including the poor in promoting interdependence and greater economic growth across the region.
“Support towards creating and nurturing a local and context-specific environment where small players can
significantly participate in the market is an important key to poverty reduction,” says NAPC Under-secretary
Patrocinio Jude Esguerra III, head of the Philippine delegation. “We must establish effective enterprise
models, and cultivate and harvest this valuable information to effectively address challenges in the ASEAN
context.”
Poverty alleviation is usually achieved with sustained economic growth but economic growth alone does not
reduce poverty. Efforts to build inclusive institutions and systems must be in place to ensure that the poor
and the vulnerable are part of and benefit from economic growth.
The senior officials will present policies, legislations, programs or best practices from their country during
the meeting. There will also be a forum on rural enterprises between the delegates and representatives
from non-governmental organizations in each respective Southeast Asian nation.
Bohol was chosen by NAPC as the venue of the SOMRDPE because the province has shown best practices in
engaging the poor in economic enterprises. Bohol is also a tourist destination where delegates can enjoy
themselves.
“This is a big event for Bohol,” says Governor Edgardo Chatto, “and we are thankful to NAPC Sec. Joel
Rocamora for bringing the ASEAN delegates to the province.”
The arrival of delegates in Bohol is expected to boost the local economy of the province, which is
undergoing rehabilitation after the massive earthquake that struck the province in October last year.