Southeast Asia’s top social security leaders will gather in Palawan from March 20-22 to sign a groundbreaking sustainability pledge, spearheaded by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) as the 2024-2025 chair of the ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA).

GSIS President and ASSA Chairperson Arnulfo Veloso on Monday said the initiative will introduce a new framework for social security in ASEAN, linking social protection, economic growth and environmental sustainability.

“Palawan is a prime example of how economic progress and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand,” he said in a news release.

“Our social security systems must follow the same principle -- balancing present needs with long-term sustainability.”

Veloso said high-level delegations from Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Singapore will join Philippine representatives from the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Home Development Mutual Fund, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Employees’ Compensation Commission and GSIS.

He said cabinet secretaries from the departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Tourism, Finance and Foreign Affairs have been invited to take part in the historic summit.

“This gathering is a defining moment for social security in our region. With combined assets exceeding USD1 trillion, ASEAN social security institutions have the power to drive sustainable development across our economies,” Veloso said.

Further, ASSA Secretary General Joseph Philip Andres highlighted the summit’s collaborative nature.

“This event brings together diverse perspectives from across ASEAN to address shared challenges. By working collectively, we can achieve far more than any single institution acting alone,” he said.

Established in 1998, ASSA is a regional organization of social security institutions committed to strengthening social protection in member countries through information exchange, best practices sharing and collaborative research.