Philippine Round Table Discussion on ASEAN Investment Law

Philippine Round Table Discussion on ASEAN Investment Law

Over one hundred participants attended the round table discussion held via Zoom on 24 August 2020, on the topic of Philippine Foreign Investment Rules and the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement.

The event was organized by the ASEAN Law Association (ALA)-Philippine National Committee, in collaboration with the ASEAN Law Institute and the Asian Institute of Management (AIM).

The following delivered their remarks:

• Retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban, Chairman of ALA Philippines, spoke on the importance of the work of ALA in preparing for economic recovery after the current pandemic.
• Jikyeong Kang, AIM President, spoke on the possibility of inter-disciplinary collaboration among ALA, the ASEAN Law Institute, and AIM.
• Honorable Avelino V. Cruz, Chairman of the ASEAN Law Institute, spoke on the importance of the work of the ASEAN Law Institute in harmonizing ASEAN national laws to promote ASEAN integration.

Atty. Patricia-Ann T. Prodigalidad, senior partner at ACCRALAW, was the main speaker at the event. Atty. Prodigalidad, who is the Philippine Country Monitor for the ASEAN Law Monitor, presented her draft Country Report describing the Philippine national rules on foreign investments by ASEAN nationals in Philippine territory. The draft report examines whether these national rules are harmonized with the national commitments made by the Philippines under the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement.

Assistant Professor Andre Palacios of the University of the Philippines-College of Law, Executive Director of the ASEAN Law Institute, presented the legal context in which the ASEAN and Philippine rules on foreign investments operate. He spoke on ASEAN integration and the importance of harmonizing ASEAN national rules with ASEAN agreements.

Dr. Federico M. Macaranas, Adjunct Professor of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), presented the economic and business context of the ASEAN and Philippine rules on foreign investments. He spoke on ASEAN investment in the pandemic.

The aim of the event was to obtain the comments of key groups of stakeholders on the draft report. The panel of reactors included the following:

• Rebecca E. Khan, Associate Professor at De Law Salle University-College of Law, who chaired the panel;
• Director Melissa Ann Telan of the Department of Foreign Affairs;
• Domingo Egon Q. Cayosa, National President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines;
• Samuel D. Bernal, Adjunct Professor of the Asian Institute of Management and Senior Fellow of the ASEAN Law Institute; and
• Dean John Paolo A. Villasor of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos School of Law, Executive Vice President of the Philippine Association of Law Schools.

The ASEAN Law Institute is working with the ALA National Committees to produce a Country Report and hold a Round Table Discussion for each ASEAN country. The Country Reports and the comments made by stakeholders during the Round Table Discussions will be used to produce a publication to be called “the ASEAN Law Monitor.” The publication aims to monitor and assist in the harmonization of ASEAN national rules with national commitments made under ASEAN agreements.

The first issue of the ASEAN Law Monitor focuses on the harmonization of ASEAN national rules on foreign investments with the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement. The Chief Editor is Assistant Professor Andre Palacios. The Issue Editor is Associate Professor Dr. Rebecca E. Khan.

Over one hundred participants attended the round table discussion held via Zoom on 24 August 2020, on the topic of Philippine Foreign Investment Rules and the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement.

The event was organized by the ASEAN Law Association (ALA)-Philippine National Committee, in collaboration with the ASEAN Law Institute and the Asian Institute of Management (AIM).

The following delivered their remarks:

• Retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban, Chairman of ALA Philippines, spoke on the importance of the work of ALA in preparing for economic recovery after the current pandemic.
• Jikyeong Kang, AIM President, spoke on the possibility of inter-disciplinary collaboration among ALA, the ASEAN Law Institute, and AIM.
• Honorable Avelino V. Cruz, Chairman of the ASEAN Law Institute, spoke on the importance of the work of the ASEAN Law Institute in harmonizing ASEAN national laws to promote ASEAN integration.

Atty. Patricia-Ann T. Prodigalidad, senior partner at ACCRALAW, was the main speaker at the event. Atty. Prodigalidad, who is the Philippine Country Monitor for the ASEAN Law Monitor, presented her draft Country Report describing the Philippine national rules on foreign investments by ASEAN nationals in Philippine territory. The draft report examines whether these national rules are harmonized with the national commitments made by the Philippines under the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement.

Assistant Professor Andre Palacios of the University of the Philippines-College of Law, Executive Director of the ASEAN Law Institute, presented the legal context in which the ASEAN and Philippine rules on foreign investments operate. He spoke on ASEAN integration and the importance of harmonizing ASEAN national rules with ASEAN agreements.

Dr. Federico M. Macaranas, Adjunct Professor of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), presented the economic and business context of the ASEAN and Philippine rules on foreign investments. He spoke on ASEAN investment in the pandemic.

The aim of the event was to obtain the comments of key groups of stakeholders on the draft report. The panel of reactors included the following:

• Rebecca E. Khan, Associate Professor at De Law Salle University-College of Law, who chaired the panel;
• Director Melissa Ann Telan of the Department of Foreign Affairs;
• Domingo Egon Q. Cayosa, National President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines;
• Samuel D. Bernal, Adjunct Professor of the Asian Institute of Management and Senior Fellow of the ASEAN Law Institute; and
• Dean John Paolo A. Villasor of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos School of Law, Executive Vice President of the Philippine Association of Law Schools.

The ASEAN Law Institute is working with the ALA National Committees to produce a Country Report and hold a Round Table Discussion for each ASEAN country. The Country Reports and the comments made by stakeholders during the Round Table Discussions will be used to produce a publication to be called “the ASEAN Law Monitor.” The publication aims to monitor and assist in the harmonization of ASEAN national rules with national commitments made under ASEAN agreements.

The first issue of the ASEAN Law Monitor focuses on the harmonization of ASEAN national rules on foreign investments with the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement. The Chief Editor is Assistant Professor Andre Palacios. The Issue Editor is Associate Professor Dr. Rebecca E. Khan.