Government firm in resolving West Philippine Sea issue through international legal procedures
Malacanang reiterated the Aquino government’s position to resolve the ownership dispute between the country and China concerning the islands in the West Philippine Sea through diplomatic, legal and peaceful means as it expressed confidence to address the issue at the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Wednesday, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Secretary Ramon Carandang said that the government remains firm on its stand to resolve the dispute in consistency with international laws.
“The best way to resolve the issue is through international law and international legal procedures which all nations have promised to adhere to so naghahanap po tayo ng mapayapa, maayos at malinaw na solusyon sa isyu na ang tinatawag ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ay Baha de Masinloc,” Carandang said.
“The offer of the DFA to go to ITLOS is part of that policy, as the President said, we don’t intend to go to war over this… if we can resolve this diplomatically, peacefully and legally then yun ang gagawin natin, so in adherence with our stand na dapat ma-resolve ito in consistency with the international law, iyan po ang alok natin sa China,” he added.
Carandang noted the participation of both parties in discussions to work things out and formulate the best solution to the issue without escalating tension.
“The good news is both parties are talking and we’re both trying to find a way out of this that will save face for both parties without escalating tension… the important thing is that talks continue,” Carandang said.
“We are confident that this can be resolved in a way that does not escalate tensions any further,” he continued.
The International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea is an independent judicial body established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to adjudicate disputes arising out of the interpretation and application of the Convention.
The Tribunal is composed of 21 independent members, elected from among persons enjoying the highest reputation for fairness and integrity and of recognized competence in the field of the law of the sea. (PCOO)
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President Aquino to keynote regional consultation of Asian labor ministers
President Benigno S. Aquino will keynote a regional consultation of Asian labor ministers that will be held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City on Thursday, April 19.
Malacanang reiterated the Aquino government’s position to resolve the ownership dispute between the country and China concerning the islands in the West Philippine Sea through diplomatic, legal and peaceful means as it expressed confidence to address the issue at the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Wednesday, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Secretary Ramon Carandang said that the government remains firm on its stand to resolve the dispute in consistency with international laws.
“The best way to resolve the issue is through international law and international legal procedures which all nations have promised to adhere to so naghahanap po tayo ng mapayapa, maayos at malinaw na solusyon sa isyu na ang tinatawag ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ay Baha de Masinloc,” Carandang said.
“The offer of the DFA to go to ITLOS is part of that policy, as the President said, we don’t intend to go to war over this… if we can resolve this diplomatically, peacefully and legally then yun ang gagawin natin, so in adherence with our stand na dapat ma-resolve ito in consistency with the international law, iyan po ang alok natin sa China,” he added.
Carandang noted the participation of both parties in discussions to work things out and formulate the best solution to the issue without escalating tension.
“The good news is both parties are talking and we’re both trying to find a way out of this that will save face for both parties without escalating tension… the important thing is that talks continue,” Carandang said.
“We are confident that this can be resolved in a way that does not escalate tensions any further,” he continued.
The International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea is an independent judicial body established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to adjudicate disputes arising out of the interpretation and application of the Convention.
The Tribunal is composed of 21 independent members, elected from among persons enjoying the highest reputation for fairness and integrity and of recognized competence in the field of the law of the sea. (PCOO)
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President Aquino to keynote regional consultation of Asian labor ministers
President Benigno S. Aquino will keynote a regional consultation of Asian labor ministers that will be held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City on Thursday, April 19.
The President will join international government labor leaders in the 2nd Ministerial Meeting of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue among Asian Countries of Labor Origin and Destination on the Administration of the Temporary Contract Employment Cycle that aims to address issues and challenges involving the recruitment and deployment of contract workers to the Gulf Cooperation Council and other migrant worker destinations in Asian countries.
The Abu Dhabi Dialogue, a milestone in regional cooperation on labor migration in Asia, brings together the Labor Ministers of the Colombo Process Countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Singapore, Malaysia, Korea and Japan to hold discussions on problems in the contract worker system.
Following the 2005 meeting of the Colombo Process in Bali, Indonesia where observer countries from the GCC states participated, it was affirmed that an expanded meeting among the Asian destination and sending countries will bring about maximum benefits on contract mobility for all stakeholders.
Thus in 2008, the UAE government took the groundbreaking step of hosting the 1st Ministerial Consultation of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue which adopted 4 action-oriented key partnership areas to address issues on and optimize mutual benefits from overseas employment and contractual labor.
Joining the President will be Vice President Jejomar Binay and Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.
In a statement, Baldoz said the ADD would enable participating governments to forge unilateral, bilateral, and regional actions that will improve the contract employment cycle.
“The Abu Dhabi Dialogue provides an opportunity for governments in countries sending and receiving contract workers to discuss and deal collaboratively with problems in the contract worker system. The Abu Dhabi Dialogue II in Manila will be such an opportunity,” Baldoz said on the eve of the event. (PCOO)
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Aquino government to come up with concrete mining policy soon
Malacanang made an assurance Wednesday that it would come up with a well-defined mining policy soon after having extensive consultations with mining stakeholders.
“We can expect it soon. There are just a few more notes that need to go between some of the departments and then that should be out in a relatively short amount of time. We understand the concerns and it is exactly what we are trying to come up with -- a well-defined mining policy from which will flow specific actions,” Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) said in a press conference in Malacanang.
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines claimed that the mining industry lost significant amount of mining investments last year because of the absence of new mining policy in the country.
Inconsistent mining policy has been a problem in the country in the past several years and Carandang said the administration wants to have definitive mining guidelines that will boost the local mining industry and attract more investments.
He mentioned the ongoing discussions on a general mining policy that could entail creation of an executive order (EO) or a change in the law.
“All of these are possible but all of the actions must stem from the general policy which will be released shortly…hopefully, very soon,” he said.
“I think the policy will give you a clear direction and before anything else I think kailangang linawin natin sa mga namumuhunan sa mining industry kung ano ba talaga ‘yung direksyon na gusto ng administrasyon pagdating sa mining.”
While saying it’s too early to say if the administration will prioritize the mining measure, Carandang made an assurance that the discussion on the mining guideline will be inclusive.
“One of the things that we also want to do is to make sure that this discussion, this policy has the approval of the stakeholders,” Carandang said. (PCOO)
