APRIL 29 — President Benigno S. Aquino III returned to Manila on Tuesday afternoon after attending the 26th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Malaysia from April 26 to 28.
Outlining his accomplishments during the Summit, the President said the Philippines’ campaign for the resolution of territorial disputes in the South China Sea through international law has gained support from Malaysia.
“Naglabas ng pahayag ang Chairman ng katatapos lang na ASEAN summit na si Prime Minister Najib Razak ng Malaysia. Dito, sinegundahan ang ating pananaw na kailangang isabuhay ng lahat ang mga prinsipyong nakasaad sa Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” he said.
“Sa pamamagitan nito, masisiguro na ang mga pagkilos ng mga bansa ay may paggalang sa karapatan ng bawat isa,” he said, adding that he is encouraged by the increasing number of countries that have recently shown their support for the Philippines.
President Aquino said he also pushed for measures to strengthen regional cooperation so that responding to such problems as terrorist threats, the effects of climate change, and pandemics would be easier.
He noted that it was agreed during the Summit that the ASEAN member states would collectively send aid to earthquake-stricken Nepal.
After the ASEAN Summit, President Aquino attended the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit, where he and his counterparts from the three countries discussed ways to strengthen the region.
“Mayroon tayong tinatawag na focus areas sa bawat bansa na di-gaanong nakakasabay sa kaunlaran. Sa halip na tingnan ito bilang problema, itinuturing natin itong isang oportunidad sa pag-asenso. Magkakalapit lang ang lokasyon ng nasabing focus areas, kaya’t praktikal lang na ikonekta at paunlarin ang mga ito,” he explained.
“Sa ganitong paraan, mapapalawak ang merkado na higit sa sakop na teritoryo, at mapapabilis ang pagpapalitan ng kalakal, teknolohiya, at kaalaman sa rehiyon.”
The President further said that while in Malaysia, he met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to expand the two countries’ bilateral ties, covering the areas of defense, maritime cooperation, trade and investments.
“Nagpasalamat din tayo sa kanila sa pagsagip sa anim na mangingisdang Pilipino nang lumubog ang kanilang bangka sa Southwest Cay Island nitong Enero,” he said.
President Aquino also noted that he spoke with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the Summit to make another appeal to spare the life of Mary Jane Veloso, who has been sentenced to death for drug smuggling.
“Patuloy ding sinisikap ng inyong gobyerno na maglatag ng mga hakbang upang maiwasan ang ganitong mga kaso na nasasangkot ang ating Overseas Filipino Workers. Maigting nating isinulong ang halaga po ng pagkakaroon ng ASEAN Instrument for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. Sinuportahan din natin ang pagtangkilik sa ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons at ang Regional Plan of Action tungkol dito,” he said.
The government, he said, is striving to create better job opportunities in the country so Filipinos need not seek work abroad to earn a living.
“Tunay po na sinasagad natin ang pagbiyahe sa ibang bansa upang makapagbukas pa ng pinto ng pagkakataon sa ating mamamayan. Muli’t muli nating pinapatunayan sa mundo na maaasahan na tayong katuwang sa pag-unlad ng lahat,” President Aquino said.
At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to welcome the President were Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alacala, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, and Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Patricia Licuanan. PND (ag)
