Day: June 19, 2024

CALAMBA CITY: A lawmaker said the Philippines must hold on to the principles espoused by national hero Dr. Jose Rizal as the country tries to navigate geopolitical tensions arising from a territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

During a celebration of Rizal’s 163rd birthday in this city, Senator Imee Marcos said the national hero’s legacy stands as a beacon of peace and wisdom, despite doubts about his relevance among the youth consumed by social media.

She stressed that as early as the 19th century, Rizal understood the power of communication -how the pen could wield more influence than the sword.

His decision to use words instead of violence during times of crisis, such as the Filipino Revolution, underscores his commitment to peaceful change and reconciliation, Marcos said.

Relating Rizal’s message to contemporary Philippines, she pointed out that the hero’s teachings remind policy-makers today that violence is not the solution whether in disputes over territories like the West Philippine
Sea or conflicts in the Taiwan Strait.

‘Rizal’s brilliance may seem overshadowed in a time where aggression is valorized, but his message of non-violence and intellectual pursuit remains crucial,’ Marcos said.

The senator said Rizal is the only notable Filipino with monuments in both China and Cuba.

Rizal’s monument in Jinjiang City, China is his tallest monument outside of the Philippines.

‘He believed in changing society through education and dialogue, not through armed conflict,’ Marcos added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Russia and North Korea agreed to provide assistance to each other if either country is attacked, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday.

Putin made the remark during a press conference with Kim after signing a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, saying the pact commits each other to provide mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of them, according to Russian news reports.

Putin also said Russia does not rule out military-technical cooperation with North Korea, and that the U.N. sanctions regime against North Korea should be revised, according to Russian news reports.

Kim said relations between the North and Russia have been upgraded to the level of alliance.

“Relations between our two nations rose to a new high of alliance,” Kim said. “It is greatly satisfying to conclude a great treaty that befits a changed international situation and the strategic nature of new DPRK-Russia relations.”

The two leaders met ag
ain nine months after they held a summit in Russia’s Far East last September, as Russia, under international sanctions over its war with Ukraine, has been bolstering military and other cooperation with North Korea.

Since the Kim-Putin summit last year, the two nations have been bolstering military ties, with the North being accused of supplying Russia with ammunition for use in Moscow’s war in Ukraine in exchange for aid and suspected technological assistance for its space program.

Putin’s trip came amid concerns that the two nations have been strengthening military cooperation beyond arms transactions as they are forming a united front against what they called U.S.-led hegemony.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

MANILA: The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Wednesday said the Jose Panganiban Port Improvement Project will boost trade and economy in the Bicol Region, particularly on export cargo operations in Camarines Norte.

During the project’s groundbreaking ceremony, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said the improvement project seeks to increase the capacity of the port from 8,673 metric tons (MT) of cargo and one roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel before the Covid-19 pandemic to 18,516 MT and two RoRo vessels by 2032.

‘Malaking tulong po ito sa ating mga kababayan sa Camarines Norte lalo na’t magsisilbi itong logistics hub dahil sa stratehikong lokasyon nito na nasa gitna ng Bicol region at National Capital Region (This will be a big help to our people in Camarines Norte because this will serve as a logistics hub due to its strategic location in the middle of Bicol region and the NCR),’ Santiago said.

He said the project will specifically help in the export of local products in Camarines Sur such as coconut and b
y-products, iron ore, silica, and copra, among others.

‘Ang mga produktong lokal ng Camarines Norte ay magkakaroon ng tulay sa pamamagitan ng PPA port na makarating sa mga karatig bansa (Local products from Camarines Norte will have a bridge through the PPA port to neighboring countries),’ he said.

During the event, Senator Robinhood Padilla thanked the PPA for the project and highlighted its benefits to the local economy.

‘Kayo po ang unang national agency ng gobyerno na tiningnan niyo po ang aming pag-asa na umunlad at ang pag-asa namin ay ma-develop namin ‘yung aming ports (You are the first national government agency that gave us hope of progress and that our ports will be developed),’ Padilla said.

The Jose Panganiban Port Improvement Project is part of the PPA’s drive to modernize ports across the country to improve the country’s seaports and maritime industry.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Romania has confirmed its plan to buy South Korean K-9 self-propelled howitzers for US$920 million, the defense ministry said Wednesday, in another boost for Seoul’s drive to clinch more arms export deals.

Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar announced the decision during talks in Romania with Seoul’s defense chief Shin Won-sik, who is on a weeklong trip to Eastern Europe that will also take him to Poland, according to the ministry.

Shin thanked Tilvar for the decision and anticipated the deal — the biggest in Romania’s arms acquisition over the past seven years — will further activate defense and arms cooperation between the two countries.

“South Korea will become the optimal partner for Romania’s push to modernize its military,” Shin said, adding he hopes the deal will lead to an array of cooperation, including joint manufacturing, cross training between relevant units and exchange of personnel.

During their talks, Shin and Tilvar agreed to further improve their cooperation in areas of military educ
ation and training, sharing of information and exchanges, defense acquisition as well as science and technology, according to the ministry.

In April, President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Romanian counterpart, Klaus Iohannis, held a summit in Seoul and agreed to boost cooperation in defense and nuclear energy.

Shin and Tilvar called military cooperation between Russia and North Korea a security threat to Asia and Europe as they concurred on the need for close cooperation and responses by the international community, the ministry said. Their meeting coincided with summit talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang.

Shin is set to leave for a three-day trip to Poland later Wednesday, where he will co-chair a joint ministerial committee meeting on bilateral defense and arms industry cooperation with his Polish counterpart, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, and visit an air base where South Korean FA-50 light combat aircraft have been deployed.

In 2022, Poland signed pro
curement deals worth 17 trillion won ($12.3 billion) to buy K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light attack aircraft and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers to bolster its defenses in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

DUMAGUETE CITY: Some 4,000 swine farmers in Negros Oriental who were affected by the African swine fever (ASF) have benefited from the financial assistance granted by the provincial government, an official said Wednesday.

The disbursement was facilitated by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) based on a verified list of affected farmers submitted by the local government units (LGUs).

‘As of today, the provincial government has shelled out some PHP22 million in cash or checks to the beneficiaries from various municipalities and cities based on the official lists,’ PVO information officer-designate Jaymar Vilos said.

Vilos said each beneficiary is entitled to PHP3,000 for every head of swine or a maximum of five heads, or PHP15,000 that either died or culled due to the ASF.

The beneficiaries came from Basay, Zamboanguita, Dauin, Valencia, Dumaguete City, Sibulan, Amlan, Tanjay City, Pamplona, Bais City, Manjuyod, Bindoy, Ayungon, and Vallehermoso.

He said the total number of hogs lost to ASF in Negros O
riental since last year could not be estimated, as other areas hit by the viral disease were not properly reported.

The provincial government allocated a PHP30 million budget for ASF claims last year, as mandated by law to help the farmers recover their losses.

Source: Philippines News Agency

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Wednesday that relations between the North and Russia have been upgraded to the level of alliance, as he announced the results of summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kim made the remark during a joint news conference after signing a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement that, according to Russian news reports, commits each other to provide mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of them.

“Relations between our two nations rose to a new high of alliance,” Kim said. “It is greatly satisfying to conclude a great treaty that befits a changed international situation and the strategic nature of new DPRK-Russia relations.”

Putin said Russia does not rule out military-technical cooperation with North Korea, and that the U.N. sanctions regime against North Korea should be revised, according to Russian news reports.

The two leaders met again nine months after they held a summit in Russia’s Far East last September, as Russia, under interna
tional sanctions over its war with Ukraine, has been bolstering military and other cooperation with North Korea.

Source: Yonhap News Agency