World leaders praised the Philippines on how it hosted the ASEAN Summit
by admin | Posted on Wednesday, November 15th, 2017
MANILA, Philippines — “We also would like to thank the Philippines also for its chairmanship achievements under each of the three ASEAN pillars including the finalization of a framework on a Code of Conduct of parties in the South China Sea,” said Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong.
Several significant agreements were also signed in the summit, including the ASEAN declaration on the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers, which will benefit more than 200,000 Filipinos working in other ASEAN countries.
Also agreed upon was the crafting of the code of conduct in the West Philippine Sea which is expected to assuage the tension in the disputed waters.
In the program, Get It straight with Daniel Razon, PCOO Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan stressed that the country has benefited a lot from the ASEAN Summit.
“ ‘Nakakain ba ang ASEAN?’ Iyan ang tanong sa atin. Hindi nakakain ang ASEAN pero yung produkto ng ASEAN pwedeng makain natin(Can you eat ASEAN? That what they ask us. We cannot eat ASEAN but we can eat the products created by ASEAN),” said Ablan.
“Halimbawa sa larangan ng ekonomiya, pag bumibili tayo ng bagay-bagay sa palengke o sa supermarket, di niyo ba na notice na medyo bumaba na ang presyo ng mga produkto na galing sa ibang ASEAN member states? Malaki ang binaba. Hindi po smuggled yun. Dala po yun ng ASEAN kasi nagkaroon po ng agreement ang sampu, yung free trade natin wala pong papatawan ng tax,” said Ablan.
(Translation: For example, in the field of economics, when you buy goods in the market or supermarket, have you not noticed the decrease in prices of goods that are from ASEAN member states? There is a significant decrease. These are not smuggled goods. It was made possible by the ASEAN through the free trade agreement between the 10 member-states; no taxes will be imposed.)
The cut down on airfare going to and from ASEAN member states is also a result of the summit.
Ablan stressed that, although guaranteed, other benefits from the ASEAN Summit will not be immediately felt.
“Hindi niyo nararamdaman overnight (It will not be realized overnight). It takes time pero (but) the way everything is cheaper now, it is the result of a collaboration such as ASEAN,” said the assistant secretary.
The government spending for the ASEAN Summit has totaled to more than 15 billion pesos.
The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), however, clarified that the said fund had not been used only for this week’s gathering of leaders but also since the beginning of the country’s preparations wherein several ASEAN meetings had also taken place. — Victor Cosare | UNTV News & Rescue
by Aileen Cerrudo | Posted on Tuesday, June 25th, 2019
Courtesy : Presidential Photo
President Rodrigo Duterte apologized to the Recto 22 after he reiterated that the abandonment of the 22 fishermen was just a “maritime incident”.
During the premiere of the movie “Kontradiksyon,” Duterte told reporters that the incident did not result in any confrontation.
“Well, I’m sorry, but that’s how it is,” he said. “They know that that area is claimed by both. For China, it happened within their jurisdiction. For us [it happened] within our jurisdiction. We have two conflicting claims of ownership.”
The Filipino boat captain previously expressed disappointment over Duterte’s remarks when he said the allision was only a “maritime incident”.
A Filipino vessel was allegedly hit by a Chinese vessel on June 9. The Filipino fishermen were abandoned at sea and were saved by Vietnamese fishermen after a few hours.
Duterte clarified that he is not belittling the situation. However, he said that it would not justify sending military troops to the area.
“It’s a maritime incident. ‘Little’ in the sense that it did not result in any confrontation. This not to belittle anything. There was damage but luckily nobody died,” he said. “That is not a reason to go to any military exercise there. If you do that, that’s war.”—AAC
by Marje Pelayo | Posted on Monday, June 24th, 2019
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joins other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states during the 34th ASEAN Summit plenary session at The Athenee Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand on June 22, 2019. Courtesy : PCOO
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Sunday (June 23) expressed President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘concern and disappointment’ over delays in the crafting of the much-awaited Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.
“The Chief Executive explained that the longer the delay for an early conclusion of the COC, the higher the probability of maritime incidents happening and the greater the chance for miscalculations that may spiral out of control,” he said in a statement while emphasizing that the President is “not beholden to or afraid of any foreign country”.
President Duterte raised the issue during the leaders’ meeting at the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand.
The establishment of a COC is seen to tone down and prevent the tensions in the disputed areas in the South China Sea.
The Philippines currently serves as country coordinator of the ASEAN-China dialogue partnership which started from 2018 to 2021.
The partnership includes negotiations for the COC over the disputed territories.
“As country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, together with fellow ASEAN member-states, the Philippines will continue to push for the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” Panelo said.
The Palace official said the Chief Executive urged the regional bloc “to remain united and steadfast in protecting time-honored principles of international law.”
“Today’s gathering has established the guiding philosophy of the President: Respect for the rule of law, and recognition of the sovereign equality of all nations as well,” Panelo noted.
The Presidential Spokesperson stressed that President Duterte is “confident in articulating in clear and unequivocal terms the position of the Philippines as regards its interests before the global stage.” – with details from Rosalie Coz
by Marje Pelayo | Posted on Monday, June 24th, 2019
Cities and Pollution contribute to climate change. According to UN Habitat, cities consume 78 per cent of the world’s energy and produce more than 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. | Courtesy: Pexels
BANGKOK, Thailand – President Rodrigo Duterte has called on members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to hold accountable countries that greatly contribute to climate change.
Duterte raised the matter during the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (June 23).
“The cost is horrendous, especially for us in Southeast Asia: Displacement, destruction and death. Real lives hang in the balance,” he said.
“We must hold countries most responsible for climate change to account, to answer,” he added.
Duterte emphasized that countries should come up with measures to alleviate the impact of natural disasters which, in time, have become more frequent and more intense.
He suggested building disaster-resilient infrastructures, innovative systems and sustainable cities.
“We must adapt and build our resilience by advancing initiatives that care for the people and the environment,” he noted.
In the World Risk Index Report 2018, the Philippines (index value of 25.14) ranked third among 172 countries with the highest disaster risk covered by the report, following Vanuatu (50.28) and Tonga (29.42).
These countries’ exposure to extreme natural events such as cyclones or earthquakes is very high and according to the report, they show very high level of societal vulnerability.
Other ASEAN countries included in the top 15 high-risk list were Brunei (18.82) at 8th spot and Cambodia at 12th place (16.07).
Meanwhile, the seven other ASEAN member nations were among the countries experience minimal risk in natural disasters with Vietnam at 25th spot (11.35); Indonesia at 36th (10.36); Myanmar at 64th place (7.49);
Malaysia at the 82nd spot (6.44); Thailand at 88th place (6.12); Laos at 106th spot (5.3); and Singapore at 158th pace (2.31) among countries in the World Risk Index 2018.
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