World leaders praised the Philippines on how it hosted the ASEAN Summit
admin • November 15, 2017 • 24547
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
A doctor and health reform advocate has recommended the extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon due to the continuous rise in confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.
In an interview in ‘Get it Straight with Daniel Razon’, Special Adviser to the National Action Plan on COVID-19 Chief Implementor Dr. Anthony Leachon said there are several things to consider before lifting the ECQ.
Leachon noted that the government should look into the number of recoveries from the virus, the number of new cases, and the number of deaths to see if there is a considerable drop.
“We must not rush into this. Nagsabi ang World Health Organization (WHO) two weeks ago na the Philippines is not ready for lifting the lockdown,” he said.
Leachon also suggests lifting the ECQ gradually and prioritize areas which have a huge decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) still has not announced any official decision on the said recommendation for ECQ extension. AAC (with reports from Dante Amento)
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has announced that they will recommend the postponement of the 2020 Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Paragames due to the novel coronavirus threat.
“The PSC has recommended to postpone the 11-nation, multi-sport event in consideration of the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (nCoV-ARD) medical issue,” the statement reads.
The sports agency said they will leave the decision to the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) which would also need to consult with the ASEAN Paralympic Sports Federation (APSF).
The Paragames was originally scheduled in January but was moved to March.
Meanwhile, the PSC also announced the postponement of PSC-managed events such as the National Sports Summit 2020, Philippine National Games, Children’s Games, and other activities.—AAC
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard and Chinese Coast Guard on Wednesday conducted joint maritime drills on search and rescue and combating fire at sea in the waters off the Philippine capital.
In a statement, the PCG said participating Filipino and Chinese personnel were given a scenario involving a vessel that caught fire while transiting Manila waters.
In response, the PCG deployed its 44-meter multi-role response vessel 4401, BRP Tubbataha, while the Chinese team dispatched vessel 5204. Both ships were equipped with water cannons used in firefighting assistance.
Five passengers and eight crew aboard the distressed ship were also rescued using rigid hull inflatable boats with rescue swimmers to aid the victims.
The PCG said the drill allows coast guard personnel to exercise interoperability and strengthen their capabilities in responding to such crises.
The joint maritime drills on search and rescue, and combating fire at sea are part of the week-long activities of Chinese Coast Guard’s port call in Manila.
The visit aims to strengthen understanding, mutual trust, and cooperation between the Philippines and China Coast Guard in a bid to promote maritime security and maritime law enforcement amid the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
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