Chinese embassy donates cash, PPEs to Philippine medical frontliners
MANILA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in the Philippines on Friday donated 1 million pesos (20,519 U.S. dollars) in cash and some personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the Philippine me.....»»
1,500 COVID-19 medical frontliners receive essential care packages from Globe
Globe and its partners have provided connectivity support to medical frontliners who risk their lives to tend to the needs of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH), National Children’s Hospital (NCH), and Tondo Medical Center (TMC) received essential support packages composed of WiFi kits, entertainment sets, grocery, medical supplies, insurance vouchers, and cash support. .....»»
Call of duty: 1,500 COVID-19 medical frontliners receive essential care packages from Globe
UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH), National Children’s Hospital (NCH), and Tondo Medical Center (TMC) receive essential support packages composed of WiFi kits, entertainment sets, grocery, medical supplies, insurance vouchers and cash support......»»
US donates P14.8 million PPEs to PGH
The United States has donated P14.8 million worth of personal protective equipment to the Philippine General Hospital and other medical facilities nationwide......»»
Anvil donates P45 million to help in pandemic and calamity
Anvil Business Club, an association of young Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs who recognize the need to extend philanthropic help to our countrymen during these trying times of calamity and pandemic, made donations totaling to around P45 million worth of cash and medical supplies through several foundations and local government units. .....»»
Volleyball Community Gives Back PH to hold SERVE AS ONE Variety Show
Volleyball Community Gives Back PH has something to serve up for those matchday personnel affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Charo Soriano, who is one of the VCGB PH leaders, is looking forward for two memorable fun days from the sport's biggest stars through the SERVE AS ONE Variety Show. A fundraising effort for volleyball personnel presented by Volleyball Community Gives Back PH, the show is scheduled on June 5 and 6, 7:30 p.m. on the ABS-CBN Sports Website, ABS-CBN Sports Facebook Page and ABS-CBN Sports YouTube Channel. "Time and time again, the Philippine volleyball community has exemplified solidarity in the face of various adversities - from community development, natural disaster responses, relief operations and more recently, distribution of PPEs to different provinces. Everyone helps out. And people - players, coaches, management, staff, officials, and fans - all do their part," said Soriano. Last month, the #CARINGFORALL: Down The Line, We Are One was launched to provide assistance for the paid-per-day personnel, as any help will go a long way. As of last Friday, VCGB PH was able to provide 200 care packs to volleyball personnel all over Metro Manila. The group hopes to raise funds and provide care packs to be distributed for more volleyball personnel families affected by the postponement and cancellation of volleyball leagues. Help is on the way and Kiwi Ahomiro, who recently lent her hand in delivering PPEs to the Philippine Army, is more than ready. "We wanted to reach out and help our volleyball personnel and staff and all those who made our games possible - bouncers, ball retrievers, referees, technicians all those whose livelihoods have been threatened due to COVID-19 so we came up with the idea of putting up the SERVE AS ONE Variety Show. All proceeds will go to the care packages for their families," said Ahomiro. Aby Maraño, who was involved in distributing the second wave of care packages, saw the hardships of the matchday personnel. "Our volleyball officials and personnel felt really sad about the fact that volleyball will stop for the next month cause volleyball from most of them is the only source of income they have. I learned that they started small businesses like selling sweet Pinoy desserts, some are selling peanut butters and garlic spicy sauce only to sustain their lives amidst the pandemic situation," said Maraño. Also taking part in handing out the care packages was Amanda Villanueva, who hopes that the help will go a long way to boost the spirits of the volleyball game's unsung heroes. "In these trying times my main motivation in helping our dearest group of volleyball personnel is the vision of hope that everything will eventually come to an end. To let them know as well that we are in this together and that nobody gets left behind in life whichever direction life leads us because we are one community and we strive to help each other in whatever way we can. To stand together as one family not just on the court but also outside of the court," said Villanueva. It may still a long way to go but Alyssa Valdez believes that the volleyball community will be in the same page to keep the personnel afloat in this challenging time. "The fight is far from over, we’re like in a championship situation, like 14-14 all, fifth set. We need one another to be able to win this fight! So I’m inviting everyone...let’s go help serve and win as one," said Valdez. Donations can be sent to Ryan Sordan through BPI bank account 8069 0632 77, GCash at 0917-5003390 and PayMaya at 0917-5003390. Meanwhile, a total of 2,081 protective personal equipments (PPEs) was distributed by the VCGB PH in the #ServeOurFrontliners: RAFFLES FOR HEROES fund drive for the medical frontliners who are doing a valiant battle against coronavirus. VCGB PH was already able to donate 310 PPEs to Sultan Kudarat, 220 to Quezon Medical Center, 301 PPEs to Batangas, 200 to Aklan, 100 to Puerto Galera, 200 to Cebu, 250 to Northern Mindanao Medical Center, 300 to National Children’s Hospital, 100 to Army, 50 to Navy and 50 to Maysan Health Station. Please visit Volleyball Community Give Back on Facebook and @vcgbph on Instagram and Twitter for more details......»»
Pinoy sailors from ill-fated Chinese vessel get aid
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday has vowed that the government is ready to provide assistance to the families of the Filipino sailors who died after a Chinese fishing vessel capsized at the central Indian Ocean last week. Marcos also extended his sympathy and condolences through social media after the preliminary findings of the government investigation showed that the Chinese fishing vessel capsized on 16 May, resulting in the tragic loss of all crew members without any survivors. Among the 39 individuals onboard the Chinese fishing vessel Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028, five were Filipino nationals. “We extend our condolences to the families of our fellow countrymen who perished in the capsized fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean on May 16,” Marcos said in a tweet. “Our government is ready to provide assistance and support to them.” Meanwhile, Marcos likewise thanked the Australian and Chinese search and rescue teams. “We also extend our gratitude to the Australian and Chinese search and rescue teams for conducting extensive operations in spite of the unforgiving weather,” said the President. Meantime, Beijing on Friday offered its condolences to Manila over the death of five Filipino crew members onboard the Chinese vessel. “We express our heartfelt and deepest condolences over the death of crew members on board including five Filipino nationals,” the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement. “We will provide full support to the concerned agency regarding the proper handling of the incident’s aftermath,” it added. On Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed the death of the five Filipino crew members of the sunken fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean after the Chinese Transport Ministry announced that there were no survivors from the fishing vessel that capsized in the Indian Ocean. The Embassy said that it has “been communicating closely with the Philippine Government since the beginning.” “We informed the accident to DFA, PCG, and other relevant departments in the first place and sought their utmost and invaluable assistance,” it said. “We built a channel with each other to share the latest SAR (search and rescue) progress and jointly coordinate with other related countries to increase SAR efforts together.” The post Pinoy sailors from ill-fated Chinese vessel get aid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Coast Guard offers condolences to families of ill-fated crew
The Philippine Coast Guard expressed sincere condolences to the bereaved families of the 39 crew members, five of them Filipinos, on board the Chinese fishing vessel that capsized in the Indian Ocean last week, as reported by China's Transport Minister Li Xiaopeng. "We are saddened by this development. Since day one, we have been monitoring and coordinating with the Australian Maritime Rescue Center and the Chinese Embassy as to the progress of the search and rescue operations," PCG Spokesperson, CG Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said. The Coast Guard Spokesperson also recognized the sacrifices of the Australian SAR teams that conducted an extensive area of operations in the Indian Ocean. "We thank the Australian SAR teams for their efforts, as we understood the risks they faced while scouring the vast waters amid unpredictable weather conditions," CG Rear Admiral Balilo expressed. "We are coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs to know how we can assist the affected families during this difficult time," the Coast Guard Spokesperson added. The post Coast Guard offers condolences to families of ill-fated crew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bridging healthcare gap
While the government has consistently strived to improve medical access, the reality remains that access to hospitals providing specialized healthcare services is still limited. Almost all specialty hospitals are located in Metro Manila. We have here the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, among others. As these specialty hospitals are some of the best in our country, many of our Filipinos from the provinces who suffer from serious diseases are constrained to travel to Manila just to ensure that they receive quality, affordable and specialized healthcare services necessary for their conditions. Having to worry over transportation and accommodation expenses on top of the already burdensome medical costs is simply too much, especially for our poor Filipinos who can barely earn enough for their daily needs. As I visited many disadvantaged communities nationwide, scores of our kababayans sought me out not only for medical assistance but also for help with their transportation expenses going to Manila, where the only hospitals that can address their health needs are located. The glaring need to bring these specialized medical services closer to our people in the provinces encourages me to continue advocating for a measure that will mandate the establishment of regional specialty centers nationwide. It is high time that we unburden our fellow Filipinos of unnecessary long travels and additional expenses just to get these services needed to save their lives. On 17 May, I sponsored Senate Bill 2212, which seeks to mandate the Department of Health to establish specialty centers in existing DoH hospitals in different regions within five years, rather than constructing entirely new specialty hospitals — a cost-efficient, faster and practical solution to address the issue. The proposal also aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which includes the establishment of specialty centers as part of the health-related legislative agenda of the administration. Moreover, if enacted into law, the DoH will be required to allocate capital outlay investments and work closely with the Department of Budget and Management to develop staffing patterns and standards for the specialty centers, securing positions for healthcare workers serving in these facilities. Particular emphasis will be placed on establishing heart, lung, and kidney centers that replicate the capabilities of the National Specialty Centers in Metro Manila. This is also a way to decongest our existing specialty hospitals. For instance, the establishment of mental health centers in various DoH hospitals would help decongest the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City. As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, I believe that physical, emotional, and mental health are all equally important, and I will continue to support measures that would protect and promote the different aspects of health as a whole. Thus, on the same day, I also co-sponsored the proposed Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act filed by Senator Win Gatchalian. If said bill is passed into law, a Care Center in basic education schools will be established. This will not only benefit the students but also the teaching and non-teaching personnel. Previously, I likewise filed SBN 1786 which aims to mandate Public Higher Education Institutions to establish Mental Health Offices in their respective campuses. Meanwhile, together with my team, I was in Cagayan on 18 May to join in the Sarakat Festival, attend the inauguration of the Super Health Center, and provide aid to 1,500 indigents in the town of Santa Praxedes, where I was honored to be its adopted son. We then headed to Lal-lo town where I witnessed the groundbreaking of another Super Health Center and also led another relief operation for 1,500 more struggling residents in the town. The following day, I visited Jordan, Guimaras, where I attended a volleyball tournament as part of the Manggahan Festival of the province and personally checked on the operations of the Malasakit Center at Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital. We also aided 217 patients and 512 frontliners in the hospital while the Department of Social Welfare and Development assisted 118 qualified patients. Later that day, we visited Buenavista, Guimaras where I led the groundbreaking of the town’s Super Health Center, spearheaded a relief operation for 1,462 indigents, and visited local infrastructure initiatives we earlier supported during the Duterte administration such as the Buenavista Wharf and seawall. Last week, my outreach teams also helped many of our fellow Filipinos in need, including 50 indigents in Libertad, 50 in Salay, and 1,735 in Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental; 153 in Agusan del Norte; 255 in Belison, Antique; 419 in Laurel, Batangas; 150 in Quezon City; 1,550 in Manila City; 666 in Limay, Bataan; 108 in Malolos City, Bulacan; 233 in Maria Aurora in Aurora; 366 in Kalawit and 333 in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte; and 1,912 families affected by armed conflict in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur. Fire-hit households, including 21 in Lapu-Lapu City, 99 in Mandaue City, and 171 in Cebu City in the province of Cebu; and six in Angeles City, Pampanga were also assisted. Aside from pushing for the establishment of regional specialty centers, I continue to support our Malasakit Centers and Super Health Centers to provide more accessible medical assistance programs and basic health services, respectively, to more of our fellow Filipinos. It is my hope that, with the support of our fellow workers in the government, we can continue bringing medical services closer to the people, particularly the economically disadvantaged and those residing in far-flung areas, to help address the urgent need to bridge the healthcare gap across the country. After all, it is enshrined in our Constitution, as a matter of state policy, that “the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people” and that “the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.” As elected representatives of the Filipino people, it is our solemn duty to realize these state policies. These programs and measures will not only protect and promote such rights but will make this a living testament to our collective desire to help provide a more comfortable life for Filipinos. The post Bridging healthcare gap appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go visits of Malasakit Center, aids patients and frontliners in Guimaras
Senator Bong Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, personally visited Jordan, Guimaras on Friday, 19 May, where he checked the operations of a Malasakit Center in the town. To help ensure quality healthcare services are provided to the residents, Go conducted a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital. In his speech, Go highlighted that there are now 157 Malasakit Centers nationwide that serve as one-stop shops for medical assistance programs, streamlining the process of availing such programs. “Ako po ang Chairman of Committee on Health sa Senado at ako rin ang Chairman on Sports. Kaya Mr. Malasakit, mayroon na tayong 157 na Malasakit Centers sa buong Pilipinas, kasama na po ang Guimaras, na may Malasakit Center,” said Go. First established in Cebu in 2018, the Malasakit Center is a brainchild of Go which houses agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to assist particularly poor and indigent patients with their hospital bills. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. During the visit, Go and his team also provided assistance, such as grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and snacks to 217 patients and 512 front liners, including security guards, utilities, and other hospital staff. They also gave away bicycles, shoes, mobile phones, and watches to select beneficiaries. The senator then mentioned that there will also be Super Health Centers in the province, including in Jordan, Nueva Valencia, and Buenavista — the last one’s groundbreaking was personally witnessed by Go later that day. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. Earlier that day, Go, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Sports, attended a volleyball tournament as part of the Manggahan Festival of the province. The senator emphasized the importance of sports in promoting a healthy lifestyle, fostering discipline, and honing teamwork. He encouraged the aspiring athletes to pursue their dreams and assured them of his unwavering support. “Ngayon as Chairman po ng Committee on Sports, gusto ko po ipagpatuloy na labanan ang ilegal na droga sa pamamaraan po na engganyuhin ang mga kabataan to get into sports, stay away from drugs. Ilayo natin ang kabataan sa ilegal na droga,” urged Go. Go was joined by Governor Joaquin Carlos “JC” Rahman Nava, Vice Governor John Edward Gando, Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Congressman Jojo Ang, and Guimaras Lone District Congresswoman Lucille Nava, among others, during his visit. Later that day, Go also visited Buenavista town in Guimaras where he led the groundbreaking of the town’s Super Health Center, spearheaded a relief operation for indigents, and visited local infrastructure initiatives he earlier supported such as the Buenavista Wharf and a seawall in the town. The post Bong Go visits of Malasakit Center, aids patients and frontliners in Guimaras appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Fake’ recruiters face human trafficking raps
Six Filipinos have filed human trafficking charges against their recruiters at the Department of Justice, who they say forced them to work as cryptocurrency scammers in Myanmar and Thailand. The Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking said the victims were recruited online to work as customer service representatives in Thailand by three Filipinos and a Chinese national. However, they were instead brought to Myanmar and forced to work for a cryptocurrency scam. The victims said they were locked in separate rooms, their passports and cellphones were confiscated, and they were subjected to physical harm and starvation. They were also told that they would have to pay $7,000 each in cash to be allowed to return to the Philippines. “They were locked out in separate rooms, their passports and cellphones confiscated, subjected to physical harm by hitting their buttocks and lower legs, hogtied, and starved,” the IACAT said. The IACAT is investigating the case and has warned the public to be wary of online job offers abroad. The victims were eventually able to contact their families and raise the money to pay their ransom. They were then released and returned to the Philippines. According to the council, the complaints of the victimized Filipinos were filed last 15 May. “The six victims were assisted by Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center and the DoJ-IACAT in filing a complaint against their recruiters — three Filipinos and a Chinese — for violation of Republic Act 9208 or Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003), as amended by Republic Act 10364, the expanded anti-trafficking law. The IACAT is investigating the case and has warned the public to be wary of online job offers abroad. The council also urged people to report any information about human trafficking to the authorities. “We advise to check the legitimacy of the job offer abroad and the recruitment agency with the Department of Migrant Workers to avoid becoming victims of human trafficking,” the IACAT said. The post ‘Fake’ recruiters face human trafficking raps appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCG, DFA monitor Chinese vessel mishap
The Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Foreign Affairs are closely monitoring a Chinese fishing boat that reportedly capsized off the Indian Ocean carrying five Filipino crew and 34 other nationalities. “The PCG Command Center is monitoring the incident and coordinating with the PCG SAR teams near the last known location of the said Chinese fishing vessel for possible assistance. The PCG is also closely coordinating with the Chinese Embassy regarding the maritime incident,” the PCG statement read on Wednesday. The DFA, on the other hand, said it is aware of the incident and is closely monitoring the situation. In a separate statement, the Chinese Embassy in Manila confirmed that five Filipino citizens, along with 17 Chinese crew from the Chinese fishing vessel named Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 are missing. “Sad to learn reports of the capsizing of a Chinese fishing vessel, the Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 (LPY28), where 39 sailors, including 17 Chinese and 5 Filipino citizens were confirmed missing,” Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said in a social media post. According to Huang, China immediately activated the emergency response mechanism upon the order of Chinese President Xi Jinping. He noted that China had already verified the situation, sent more rescue forces, and coordinated international maritime search and rescue assistance. China is “making every effort to contact all relevant local parties and coordinate the search and rescue work,” he said. According to a report of Agence France-Presse quoting a report from CCTV, “Lupeng Yuanyu 028” is a distant-water fishing vessel owned by Penglai Jinglu Fishery Co. Ltd. based in Shandong province that capsized at around 3 a.m. (Beijing time) on Tuesday. “So far, no missing persons have been found,” CCTV said, adding President Xi Jinping had ordered a search and rescue operation. Search and rescue teams from around the region have arrived on the scene and China has deployed two vessels to assist in the operation, the report said. It added that China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched an “emergency mechanism for consular protection” involving embassies and consulates in Australia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other countries. @tribunephl_raf @tribunephl_jom The post PCG, DFA monitor Chinese vessel mishap appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go visits Malasakit Center in Quirino Province
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go conducted a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center located at the Quirino Province Medical Center in Cabarroguis, Quirino on Saturday, 22 April. The center is a one-stop shop that houses representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to help financially incapacitated patients reduce their hospital expenses to the lowest amount possible. A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which he principally authored and sponsored in the Senate. To date, the 157 operational centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide according to the DOH. “Isa lang po ang pakiusap ko sa inyo, huwag n’yo pong pababayaan ‘yung mga kababayan nating mahihirap, ‘yung mga helpless, hopeless, ‘yung walang matakbuhan kung hindi ito lang pong hospital ng gobyerno... Tulungan po natin sila,” urged Go. During the visit, several officials accompanied the senator, including PCSO Chairman Junie Cua, Representative Midy Cua, Board Member Beth Saure, Diffun Mayor May Calaunan, and Cabarroguis Mayor Avelino Agustin, Jr. among others. Also present in the province that day were Senator JV Ejercito and Quirino Governor Dax Cua. Go and his team also provided meals, grocery packs, masks, vitamins, snacks, and shirts to 101 patients and 830 frontliners. They also gave away bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients. Meanwhile, the DSWD extended financial assistance to the patients as well as to 317 qualified hospital staff including security guards and other outsourced personnel. Apart from the Malasakit Center, Go, who serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reiterated his commitment to support the establishment of more Super Health Centers across the country, considering how they can significantly help reduce hospital occupancy rates while bringing government medical services closer to the grassroots. “Patuloy po akong tutulong sa pagpaparami ng Super Health Centers sa bansa sa abot po ng aking makakaya," said Go. "Sa mga itinayo ng Super Health Centers, nakita namin kung gaano kalaki ang naitutulong nito sa komunidad lalo na sa rural areas. ‘Yun po ang layunin ng mga Super Health Centers, ang ilapit sa mamamayan ang serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno,” he added. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. In Quirino, necessary funds have been allocated last year for the DOH to construct a Super Health Center in Saguday. More Super Health Centers were funded this year in Aglipay and Nagtipuna. Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done. As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported various initiatives to boost development and economic growth in Quirino. These include the construction of a multipurpose building in Cabarroguis, concreting of the Sinabbagan Road in Nagtipunan, construction of the Tamsi-Landingan Viewpoint water system in Nagtipunan, and installation of solar street lights in Saguday and Diffun. “Sana po ay napasaya namin kayo ngayong hapon na ito. Mayroon lang po akong paalala sa inyo, sana po ay maalala n’yo ito sa mahabang panahon: Minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede natin gawin sa ating kapwa, gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” said Go. On the same day, Go attended the 6th Quirino Motorismo celebration, and then conducted an inspection of the Super Health Center in Saguday where he also aided indigent residents. The post Go visits Malasakit Center in Quirino Province appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM to talk to Chinese envoy ‘soon’ about Taiwan OFW remarks
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he wants to talk to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian "soon" to discuss his comments regarding overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan. The Chief Executive made the pronouncement on the sidelines of a housing event several days after Huang told the Philippines to resist "Taiwan independence" by prohibiting American troops from entering Philippine military bases "if it genuinely cared" about the 150,000 OFWs residing on the autonomous island. "I'll be talking to the ambassador soon and I'm sure he will be very anxious to give his own interpretation of what he was trying to say… We were all a little surprised, but I just put it down to difference in language," Marcos added. Marcos pointed out that the confusion might have resulted from a translation issue, considering that English is not the Chinese Ambassador's primary language. After facing criticism for Huang's comments, the Chinese Embassy accused journalists of either misquoting or misunderstanding the ambassador, and urged the public to refer to the "original text of the speech." In the provided transcript of Huang's statement, he stated that some individuals attempted to justify the new EDCA sites by referring to the safety of the 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan. He further mentioned that China is the last country that wants to see conflict arise over the Strait because both sides comprise Chinese people. "Some tried to find (an) excuse for the new EDCA sites by citing the safety of the 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan, while China is the last country that wishes to see conflict over the Strait because people on both sides are Chinese," said the statement. Marcos said that he is "very interested" to know what the ambassador meant with his remarks, adding that he interprets the statement as him trying to tell the Philippine government "not to provoke or intensify" the tensions as "it may impact badly" on the Filipinos. The post PBBM to talk to Chinese envoy ‘soon’ about Taiwan OFW remarks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DFA: Chinese envoy’s remarks against Taiwan OFWs part of his job
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian is only doing his job when he issued his alleged threat on overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan. In a chance interview, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Eduardo de Vega said that Huang being China’s representative in the country is expected to advance Beijing’s interest. "Any diplomat will say things to advance their country's interest... I don't think he meant, nobody means they are going to harm our workers,” De Vega said. He issued the statement after Senator Risa Hontiveros on Sunday called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ask his counterparts in Beijing to recall its representative in the country following the ambassador's “disgraceful” statement. “The Palace should tell Beijing to recall their representative in Manila as soon as possible. He has no business being a diplomat if he is unable to engage with us in a respectful and dignified manner,” she said. “He, along with his country’s ships and artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea, should pack up and leave,” she added. On Friday, Huang said the Philippines should “unequivocally oppose” Taiwan’s independence if it “genuinely cares” about 150,000 OFWs on the self-ruled island. “The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs,” he said. On Sunday, the Chinese Embassy in Manila defended Huang from criticisms, saying the latter was only “misquoted.” “It is appreciated that there was extensive coverage of Ambassador Huang Xilian's speech at the 8th Manila Forum,” the Embassy told Daily Tribune. “Unfortunately, some misquoted or misinterpreted Ambassador Huang's remarks or simply took part of the Ambassador's words out of context,” it added. ‘Contingency plan’ Meanwhile, De Vega allayed fears about the safety of some 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan. “We have a contingency plan which has been in place for some time,” he said. “We know where they are, we have records.” He added that the DFA will always believe in diplomacy. Last week, Beijing issued a slew of warnings against the military cooperation of the Philippines with the US, stressing that it will “eventually backfire.” “Our region’s peace and stability hinges on trust, solidarity and cooperation and requires that we, as members of this region, take our security firmly in our own hands,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. “We would like to once again remind the relevant country in the region that pandering to forces outside the region will not bring greater security, but will cause tensions, put regional peace and stability at risk and eventually backfire,” he added. Wang particularly hit the locations of the additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreements between Manila and Washington, to which American forces will have access. Wang said that based on locations of the four additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites in the Philippines, which US forces will have access to, the “intention behind those sites is more than obvious.” The locations of the additional four EDCA sites are in Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, both in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela province; and Balabac, the southernmost island in Palawan province. The post DFA: Chinese envoy’s remarks against Taiwan OFWs part of his job appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China tells Phl: Oppose Taiwan’s independence
If the Philippines “genuinely cares” about 150,000 overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan, it should “unequivocally oppose” Taiwan’s independence, China said Friday. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian stressed this in his keynote speech at the 8th Manila Forum, which was co-presented by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Manila and the Association for Philippines-China Understanding. “The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs,” Huang said. While China commends the Philippines for adhering to the one-China principle, he explained that Taiwan's issue is “entirely China’s internal affair, as is the Mindanao issue to the Philippines.” “You will never allow any third party to meddle with resolving rebel issues in Mindanao. Likewise, it should not be hard to understand why the announcement of the four additional EDCA sites has caused widespread and grave concern among Chinese people,” he said. Last week, Malacañang identified the locations of the four additional EDCA sites, to where American forces will have access. The Presidential Communications Offices said the new locations will be in Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, both in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela province; and Balabac, the southernmost island in Palawan province. Of the four additional EDCA sites, three are situated in the northern part of the country, with the naval base at Cagayan's Santa Ana being about 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Taiwan. Huang said the new EDCA sites were “obviously” chosen by the United States to “interfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait to serve its geopolitical goals, and advance its anti-China agenda at the expense of peace and development of the Philippines and the region at large.” Earlier this week, Beijing conducted live-fire drills for three days near Taiwan, in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s recent trip to the United States. China considers Taiwan, an ally of the US, as part of its territory, to be retaken one day -- by force, if necessary. Huang said that China is the “last country that wishes to see conflict over the Strait because people on both sides are Chinese.” “This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities,” he said. China also warned the Philippines against the plan to increase American military deployment in the country. “To know if increased US military deployment in another country truly helps to protect the host country’s sovereignty and security, one just need to take a look at the long list of mess left behind by the scourge of American military around the world, the turmoils, divisions and devastation,” he said. “Answers will not be difficult to find. To have strategic independence or to be at the mercy of others? French President Macron proffered the answer: Being an ally does not mean being a vassal,” he added. ‘Phl, China friendship’ Huang noted that the bilateral relations between the Philippines and China were “defined by peaceful coexistence for over a thousand years and will continue to be so in the future.” “Friendship is always the mainstream of our bilateral relations,” he said. “We each have our respective claims and positions regarding the South China Sea. Differences thereof should be resolved by parties directly involved through dialogues and with mutual respect,” he added. Huang said that Beijing is committed to strengthening dialogue mechanisms with the Philippines. Under the 2016 ruling of a Hague-based arbitral tribunal, the Philippines has sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea, which invalidates China’s nine-dash line claim. Beijing, however, has continued to disregard the UNCLOS decision, installing man-made military infrastructure on several reefs and features within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. Huang said that “provocative actions or bringing in external forces will not help but further complicate the situation and cause more problems, putting regional peace and security at risk.” “We should learn from history and avoid repeating mistakes,” he added. The post China tells Phl: Oppose Taiwan’s independence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
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