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But despite the foregoing restrictions or difficulties, the

Philippines has been trying to make itself MRA-ready. It has
developed a National Qualifications Referencing Framework
(NQRF) that is consistent with the AQRF. A major but difficult

educational reform is the Philippine adoption of the K-12
program, which added two years to basic education, in

conformity with global standards for basic education.

Overall, however, it is abundantly clear that new
national laws are needed to make the MRAs fully operational

in the Philippine context.

Conclusion: Towards the “freer” movement of skilled labor

and rebalancing of the MRAs in support of development

Various commentators have proposals on how to make
the MRAs operational and make the “free movement of skilled

labor” a regional reality. Foremost among these proposals
is the need for overcoming restrictions at the national level,

meaning for ASEAN countries to legislate or institute national
skills recognition and certification programs that are consistent
and supportive to the regional MRAs. In this regard, Mendoza

and Sugiyarto are quite blunt: they want to set aside the
“ASEAN Way”, meaning regional agreement is arrived at only if

there is full consensus among the ten ASEAN Member States.

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