The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), led by His Excellency, Undersecretary Adonis Sulit, welcomes the delegates of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) during the opening day of 40th Senior Officials Committee for the ASCC (SOCA) meeting on Tuesday (March 3) at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City.
Undersecretary Sulit, who also serves as the SOCA Philippines leader, emphasized in his opening remarks the significance of the discussions to achieve a more inclusive and people-centered ASEAN.
The opening ceremony was attended by Singapore Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social and Family Development and for Home Affairs Development and SOCA Vice-Chair His Excellency Aubeck Kam; Brunei Darussalam Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Her Excellency Hajah Nor Ashikin Binti Haji Johari; Cambodia Deputy Director General and Director of the Directorate General of Policy and Planning, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport His Excellency Dr. Dy Khamboly; Indonesia Deputy Director General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Her Excellency Yuliana Bahar; Lao PDR Director General of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism His Excellency Khamphou Phiasackha; Malaysia Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia His Excellency Dato Shaharuddin Bin Abu Sohot; Myanmar Director General of the Department of Historical Research and National Library, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture His Excellency Hlaing Win Maung; Thailand Technical Advisor on Social Development of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security Her Excellency Sirilak Meemak; Timor-Leste Director General of Corporate Service of the Ministry of Rural Development and Community Housing His Excellency Ageu Jorge Cardoso; and, Vietnam Deputy Director of International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Her Excellency Ha Thi Minh Duc.
The ASEAN-ASCC 2026 is currently chaired by the DSWD. (AKDL)
