WITH House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Senior Vice Chair and Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo presiding, member-Parliaments of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) on Friday afternoon, held a plenary meeting focused on economic and trade matters, tackling critical infrastructure, human capital development and inclusive growth in particular.
Rep. Quimbo emphasized the need to of recalibrate approach to fiscal management, with a specific focus on minimizing risks and strengthening economic defenses to effectively navigate future crises. She added that critical infrastructure—physical and cyber assets, systems, and networks—must be open, safe, secure, accessible, interoperable, peaceful, and resilient to create a good business environment.
Rep. Quimbo also urged her colleagues to reinforce policies that not only promote economic prosperity but also equitable opportunity for all. She called on her fellow parliamentarians to collaboratively pursue similar legislations that the Philippines is currently pursuing. These legislations pertain to the blue economy and circular economy, which aim to promote the sustainable production of goods. She also exhorted the parliamentarians to invest in human capital development.
The Mexican delegate submitted for consideration of the assembly a draft resolution stressing the importance of parliamentary action focused on promoting human capital development and inclusive growth. “The health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic made more evident the multiple inequalities and deficiencies that existed in the educational system and its effects have an adverse impact on access, as well as the equitable, inclusive and quality education which in addition have been recognized as a human right,” he said.
The Mexico-sponsored resolution aims, among others, to invite APPF member states to meet the fourth sustainable development goal (SDG) by providing universal access to primary and secondary education, as well as technical training to meet their life expectations and transform their societies.
The representative of Peru said the development of human capital and inclusive growth in an underdeveloped country like theirs has certain shortcomings, such as equal access to education, health, work and other opportunities that allow people to reach their maximum potential. In that context, education plays a crucial role in the development of human capital. “A society that invests in accessible and quality education system is investing in the growth of its citizens,” she said.
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