ASEAN member countries are moving towards achieving the ASEAN Economic
Community with the timeline set at 2015. It is therefore important for policymakers in the
region to sustain the momentum—or perhaps even accelerate the pace— towards
establishing the AEC. Policy measures are being implemented based on the AEC
Blueprint agreed upon in 2007. However, progress among the ASEAN member
countries in meeting their commitments has been uneven. This paper reviews the
progress of the Philippines in meeting its commitments on the AEC and comparing it
with achievements of other ASEAN countries. The paper also discusses some of the
problems and constraints that may prevent the Philippines from benefitting from the
AEC.