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MANILA, Philippines - The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), in partnership with the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), will hold the 2nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foresight Alliance Workshop on 7-9 June 2021 via Zoom.

The creation of the ASEAN Foresight Alliance (AFA) was proposed by Malaysia during the 52nd Meeting of the ASEAN Sub-committee on S&T Infrastructure and Resources Development (SCIRD) on 1 – 3 April 2018 in Puspitek, Indonesia to act as a platform to facilitate evidence-based future planning and assist the ASEAN Member States (AMS) in developing their national policies, strategies, and action plans.

The Manila Workshop/Meeting is a follow up event to the 1st AFA Workshop/Meeting held on 11-13 December 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It aims to initiate the process towards having an ASEAN Vision 2050, discuss the plans and activities of the ASEAN Members, and expand the ASEAN Foresight Alliance network.

Speakers for the first day are Secretary Fortunato de la Peña of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Dr. Rezal Khairi Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer, NanoMalaysia Berhad (Future Energy by 2050); Academician Guillermo Q. Tabios III, Member, NAST Philippines (Digital Ecosystem for Water Resources Systems); Mr. Lee Inn Beng, Director, Government Strategy and Engagement, Clarivate Analytics (ICT-Enabled, Data Driven Foresight Planning); Dr. Liz Alexander, International Futures Consultant and Author (What is Future Thinking?); Dr. Marie Aubrey J. Villaceran, Deputy Director, UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (Role of Women in post-pandemic STEM); Prof. Dr. Fredolin Tangang, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; and Professor Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam, Co-Chair, ASEAN Young Scientists Network (Future of Healthcare by Design: Trends, Technologies & Trust).

Second day speakers are Academician Rodel D. Lasco, Member, NAST Philippines (Climate Change and ASEAN Common Vision); Ms. Seema Gail Parkash, Deputy Head, Centre for Strategic Futures, Strategy Group, Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore (Singapore’s COVID-19 Foresight Journey); Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, Undersecretary, Department of Science and Technology (ASEAN Science, Technology, and Innovation Cooperation on a Common Future); and Academician William Padoilna, Member, NAST Philippines and Professor Emerita Mazlan Othman, Chair, Board of Advisor of ASEAN Foresight Alliance, ASM (Summary and Recommendations).

Academician Rhodora V. Azanza, President, NAST Philippines emphasizes the importance of the ASEAN Foresight Alliance (AFA) Workshop to the ASEAN Community. “As we keep up with the challenges brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the ongoing pandemic, we should also learn from the effects and welcome the benefits of this era in our work, lives, and congruence as member nations of the ASEAN community. In order to be prepared for what lies ahead, we should be agile and anticipate the opportunities and threats that may arise as we thread a common sustainable future,” she emphasizes.

Azanza adds that the event is timely as NAST has just completed the “PAGTANAW 2050,” a DOST funded inter-disciplinal and trans-disciplinal project on Philippine-focused science, technology, and innovation (STI) Foresight and Strategic Plans which can serve as vital inputs and policy advice or influence towards attaining a preferred and united future considering our natural endowments and national aspirations.

Prior to the 7 to 9 June Main Workshop, NAST and ASM organized a Training Workshop on 24 May 2021 on foresight methodologies as tools to design ASEAN common future goals and help build-up the capacity of ASEAN members in developing their national policies, strategies, and action plans using the “pulls of the future, the push of the present and the weight of the past.”

NAST Philippines is an attached agency to the Department of Science and Technology mandated by law to advise the President and the Cabinet on matters related to S&T. ASM strives to be the Malaysia’s Thought Leader for matters related to science, engineering, technology and innovation. For more details, follow NAST Philippines (@nastphl) and ASM (@akademisainsmy)’s social media accounts!