By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Calling the latest harassment incident “unacceptable”, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has demanded that all Chinese vessels leave the Ayungin Shoal which is within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
On Tuesday (5 March 2024) afternoon, the DFA summoned the Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission as it lodged a diplomatic protest against the aggressive actions carried out by Chinese vessels against Philippine ships during a rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.
“During the meeting, the Philippines stressed, among others, that China’s interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its exclusive economic zone is unacceptable. China’s actions in Ayungin Shoal infringe upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” the DFA said in a statement.
Aware of the increasing international support for the country’s cause, the DFA boldly said: “The Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately.”
The DFA underscored that the Ayungin Shoal is within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, as stated in international law.
“Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. By the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award, it cannot be appropriated for sovereignty claims. International law affirms that the Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the feature,” the DFA further stressed.
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MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has announced the temporary suspension of e-visa applications in China through its Philippine e-Visa System.
In an advisory dated November 30, the DFA stated that the suspension would be in effect “until further notice.”
Visa applicants in China are advised to reach out to the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate for lodging their applications and further inquiries.
The DFA initiated the e-visa beta testing in Shanghai, China, targeting Chinese tourists in August. Later, on November 13, the agency expanded the test to all seven foreign service posts in China, with plans to include India before the year’s end.
According to the latest data from the DFA, its embassy and consulates in China issued a total of 1,739 Philippine e-Visas from August 24 to November 6. During this period, the agency noted that e-visa applicants navigated the system with general ease and received necessary support for minor technical difficulties.
The DFA mentioned ongoing refinements to the system with assistance from the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
Despite the successful beta testing, the DFA has not provided specific reasons for the suspension when queried. Applicants are encouraged to stay updated on developments through official channels.
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By Liezelle Soriano
The President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta will be visiting the Philippines on November 10 to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries a ranking official said Sunday.
“The state visit of President Jose Ramos Horta involves discussions with President Bong bong Marcos on various areas of cooperation between the Philippines and Timor-Leste in terms of technical, political, educational and economic partnerships,” Press Secretary Cheloy Garafil said.
Sec. Garafil added that department secretaries of the following agencies will be present during the meeting: Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In May, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. gave Timor-Leste assurances about the Philippines’ unwavering support for its transition into a full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during a bilateral meeting held on the fringes of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia.
“In the Philippines, you have a partner. We have always been supportive,” President Marcos told Timor-Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak in the said bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the 42nd ASEAN Summit.
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The Philippines and Japan have officially ratified an agreement, valued at PHP376 million, aimed at supporting road development and emergency response efforts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
This non-project grant aid (NPGA) from Japan was formalized through diplomatic notes signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko.
The signing occurred during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s two-day official visit to Manila and carries a total worth of JPY957 million (equivalent to approximately USD6.8 million or PHP376 million), according to the DFA.
The NPGA’s primary focus is to facilitate the acquisition of construction equipment for road network enhancement and efficient disaster response operations within the Bangsamoro region.
Its objectives encompass providing support for relief operations, including the restoration and maintenance of vital access roads, bridges, and waterways, as well as extending aid during times of calamities and disasters, as stated by the DFA.
Furthermore, it seeks to address the heightened impact of flooding exacerbated by climate change in the Bangsamoro region.
Notably, the NPGA stands as a grant mechanism designed to assist developing nations by offering foreign currency funding for the importation of goods incorporating Japanese technologies, addressing specific economic or social needs.
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By Junex Doronio
DESPITE THE RAGING ARMED CONFLICT, more than 16,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) opted to stay in Lebanon as only six of them arrived in the Philippines early Friday morning.
Maharlika NuMedia learned that there are 17,000 Filipinos in Lebanon. Of the number, only about a hundred have requested for repatriation.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega earlier disclosed that many OFWs have decided to stay in Lebanon because of work, while some believe that the situation in Beirut is “business as usual.”
“We hope mas maraming sasagot dito at makauwi,” De Vega said.
The Philippine government placed Lebanon under Alert Level 3 on October 21, signifying voluntary repatriation.
The six OFWs arrived via Flight EK336 which departed from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 past 6 a.m.
The returning OFWs composed the first batch of repatriates from Lebanon amid the ongoing armed clashes there between Israel and Hezbollah militants.
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By Liezelle Soriano
The government of Egypt has vowed to prioritize Filipinos to move out of Gaza amid the raging Israel-Hamas war as soon as the Rafah border opens a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said Friday.
Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said that the Rafah border is the crossing near Egypt which is the safest way out for Filipinos trapped in Gaza.
“Kinausap ko ang ambassador ng Egypt kahapon at sinabi ng kanilang pamahalaan na bibigyan ng priority ang mga Pilipinong lulusot. Pangako niya ‘yan na bibigyan tayo ng priority sa border,” De Vega said in a radio interview.
De Vega said that he was unable to provide an exact schedule for the opening of the border at this time but that it may happen “within the next 24 hours” or “any day now.”
“Kung hindi man, well at least may positive news tayo na naguusap ang mga pamahalaan. Kasi kung hindi makalabas [ang foreign nationals], eh parang hindi successful ang diplomatic approach ng Presidente ng United States of America,” he added.
Earlier, the Philippines placed Gaza under alert level 4, making it mandatory for Filipinos to evacuate.
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MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has ordered the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Gaza after raising the alert level to 4.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the public that due to the current situation in Gaza, we have placed Gaza under Alert Level 4 (Mandatory Repatriation),” the DFA said in a statement on Sunday.
The DFA said that of the 131 Filipinos in Gaza, at least 78 are situated near the Rafah border crossing near Egypt while the rest left the northern part, which is expected to be the main site of hostilities.
“The Philippine government continues to work on the repatriation of our nationals and will provide updates on developments,” the DFA said.
In a separate Viber message, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said that with the raising of the alert level, the government is now “calling on our nationals to leave.”
“If they stay, they do so at their own very grave risk,” de Vega said.
Israel’s army earlier ordered all Palestinians to vacate the northern part of Gaza and Gaza City within 24 hours.
Reports said Israel is preparing a ground offensive on the besieged enclave.
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THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is currently in the process of verifying reports regarding the alleged abduction of Filipino workers by suspected Hamas militants amidst a major escalation of hostilities in Israel.
According to Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv has received “unconfirmed reports” that a group of Filipinos working in close proximity to the Israeli border was taken captive on Saturday morning.
“We have received these unconfirmed reports at the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, and we are actively working to verify their accuracy,” stated Daza.
She further assured that all Filipino agro-studies students in Israel are currently “accounted for,” based on the latest information available.
“Nevertheless, we are continuously monitoring the situation and have requested the local authorities to ensure their safety,” Daza added.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega disclosed that contingency plans have been put into motion, including an emergency meeting convened at the embassy, to ensure the well-being of the approximately 30,000 Filipinos residing in Israel.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries among the Filipino community in Israel, as confirmed by de Vega. “Evacuation plans have been prepared, just in case. However, as of now, our ambassador has reported no Filipino casualties. We are actively in touch with the Filipino community to ensure their welfare,” he stated in a television interview on Saturday.
In response to this situation, the Department of Migrant Workers has established a 24/7 Task Force Israel Desk dedicated to assisting Filipinos in Israel. They can be reached at +63 2 1348 or via WhatsApp and Viber at +63 9083268344, +63 9271478186, or +63 9205171059.
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Image Courtesy of: CNN Philippines
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has called for an immediate halt to activities that are detrimental to the environment in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
On Monday, the DFA expressed deep concern over reports of coral destruction in Rozul Reef, located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Coral reefs, which once thrived in the shallow waters near Rozul (Iroquios) Reef in the WPS, have disappeared, likely due to extensive harvesting, according to an official from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who reported this on Saturday.
Vice Admiral Albert Carlos, AFP Western Command chief, confirmed these findings after a survey of Rozul Reef, where Chinese maritime militia vessels had been observed “swarming” by Philippine military air assets on September 6 and 7.
The DFA stressed that the Philippines has consistently raised concerns about ecologically damaging activities by foreign vessels in its maritime zones, an issue extensively discussed in the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.
In a statement, the DFA called on all concerned parties to act responsibly and cease any activities that could harm the precious marine environment. They emphasized, “The well-being of millions of people who depend on the South China Sea for their livelihood is at stake.”
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri expressed outrage over the destruction of the marine ecosystem in the WPS, as the continued presence of Chinese vessels within the Philippines’ EEZ threatens global food security.
Zubiri pointed to the reported damage to coral reefs in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, where numerous Chinese maritime militia vessels have been spotted operating illegally.
He emphasized that this destruction affects not only the Philippines but the entire world because the fish species breeding in these reefs are harvested by fishermen from various nations, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. Therefore, protecting these coral reefs is in the best interest of the global community.
Zubiri revealed that the Senate is collaborating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to establish marine ranger stations in key coastal areas nationwide to safeguard the country’s marine resources in the WPS. He has also requested a budget allocation of P600 million for this initiative, emphasizing the critical need for it.
Furthermore, Zubiri pledged to advocate for larger allocations in the 2024 national budget for the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy to acquire additional patrol boats and equipment. Under the proposed P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget, the PCG is set to receive P24.014 billion, a nearly 10 percent increase from its current budget, while the Navy’s budget will increase to P40.97 billion from its current allocation of P34.98 billion. (AI/MNM)