Marcos to visit Brunei and Singapore next week | ABS-CBN
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Marcos to visit Brunei and Singapore next week
Marcos to visit Brunei and Singapore next week
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrives at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 21, 2023 after attending the inaugural Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit. Alfred Frias, NIB-PNA/File
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrives at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 21, 2023 after attending the inaugural Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit. Alfred Frias, NIB-PNA/FileMANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. will leave for Brunei Darussalam next week to undertake his first state visit to the Southeast Asian Sultanate, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. will leave for Brunei Darussalam next week to undertake his first state visit to the Southeast Asian Sultanate, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.
The visit, which will be on May 28 to 29, 2024, marks 40 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Brunei, which was established in 1984.
The visit, which will be on May 28 to 29, 2024, marks 40 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Brunei, which was established in 1984.
While there, the Philippine leader will meet with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who is also the Head of State of Brunei.
While there, the Philippine leader will meet with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who is also the Head of State of Brunei.
“Without preempting the discussions between the two heads of states, but we want to focus in on economic cooperation. As you know, Brunei is a powerhouse in terms of energy but they are also a good market also for us,” DFA Office of the Asian Pacific Affairs Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau said in a Palace briefing.
“Without preempting the discussions between the two heads of states, but we want to focus in on economic cooperation. As you know, Brunei is a powerhouse in terms of energy but they are also a good market also for us,” DFA Office of the Asian Pacific Affairs Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau said in a Palace briefing.
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Marcos will also meet with members of the Filipino community, where the Philippine leader is expected to highlight the contribution of the more than 25,000 Filipinos currently residing in Brunei.
Marcos will also meet with members of the Filipino community, where the Philippine leader is expected to highlight the contribution of the more than 25,000 Filipinos currently residing in Brunei.
The President will also attend a business forum where he will meet with top members of the business sector to promote trade and investments relations between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam.
The President will also attend a business forum where he will meet with top members of the business sector to promote trade and investments relations between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam.
Marcos will be accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos during the state visit.
Marcos will be accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos during the state visit.
SINGAPORE VISIT
From Brunei Darussalam, the President and the First Lady will fly directly to Singapore on the 29th, where the President will be undertaking a working visit to Singapore to deliver the keynote address of the 21st Edition of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, considered to be Asia’s premier defense summit.
From Brunei Darussalam, the President and the First Lady will fly directly to Singapore on the 29th, where the President will be undertaking a working visit to Singapore to deliver the keynote address of the 21st Edition of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, considered to be Asia’s premier defense summit.
DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said the dialogue will provide “a good platform for defense ministers, military chiefs, government officials and security experts around the world to discuss and address regional and global security challenges.”
DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said the dialogue will provide “a good platform for defense ministers, military chiefs, government officials and security experts around the world to discuss and address regional and global security challenges.”
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According to the DFA, this will be the first time that a Philippine president will address the Shangri-La Dialogue, which also comes amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea over China’s maritime expansion and repeated harassment of Philippine vessels.
According to the DFA, this will be the first time that a Philippine president will address the Shangri-La Dialogue, which also comes amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea over China’s maritime expansion and repeated harassment of Philippine vessels.
“When you have a forum such as this, it gives a good platform for a country to actually expound and articulate its position on key issues. So, it will be an important platform for us to actually also convey our positions relative to what is happening within the region and how… and what we are advocating for. So, it’s something that is useful not only for those who are attending but also for the country who’s actually participating in this international fora,” Daza said in the same briefing.
“When you have a forum such as this, it gives a good platform for a country to actually expound and articulate its position on key issues. So, it will be an important platform for us to actually also convey our positions relative to what is happening within the region and how… and what we are advocating for. So, it’s something that is useful not only for those who are attending but also for the country who’s actually participating in this international fora,” Daza said in the same briefing.
Marcos will also meet with Singapore’s new leadership, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Marcos will also meet with Singapore’s new leadership, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
He will also have a brief meeting with the former Singaporean Prime Minister and currently Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue.
He will also have a brief meeting with the former Singaporean Prime Minister and currently Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue.
“This year also commemorates the 55 years of Philippines-Singapore diplomatic relations, and the meeting between the new Singaporean leaders and the President comes at this very auspicious juncture,” Mendiola-Rau said.
“This year also commemorates the 55 years of Philippines-Singapore diplomatic relations, and the meeting between the new Singaporean leaders and the President comes at this very auspicious juncture,” Mendiola-Rau said.
LAND TITLE DISTRIBUTION
On Friday, Marcos led the distribution of electronic titles (e-titles) and Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries of Soccsksargen.
In a program held at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center (SCGCC) in Koronadal City, a total of 4,351 CLOAs and e-titles covering a total of 5,918.44 hectares of land were distributed to some beneficiaries from South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform.
“Sa kabuuan, nakapagbigay na kami ng halos 10,700 titulo, katumbas ng higit 18,000 hektarya ng lupa dito sa inyong region. Nilalayon naming [makapagbigay] pa ng halos 2,000 titulo sa tinatayang 2,600 magsasaka sa inyong rehiyon ngayong taon,” Marcos said in his speech.
He assured beneficiaries that they no longer need to pay amortization for the land given to them.
“Ang tanging aalahanin na lang po ninyo ay kung papaano gagawing produktibo ang inyong lupa at papaano kayo magkakaroon ng mas maginhawa na buhay para sa inyo at sa inyong mga pamilya,” the President said.
“Sa pamamagitan ng New Agrarian Emancipation Act na pinanday natin kasama ng ating mga mambabatas, binura na po natin ang ilang dekada nang pagkakautang ng ilang magsasaka na nauna nang nabigyan ng lupa ng pamahalaan. Wala na po --- wala na po kayong kailangan alalahanin tungkol diyan dahil ay sinabi na namin ay burado na 'yan. Burado na 'yung utang ninyo.”
The President also called on the beneficiaries to work with the government to ensure the proper utilization of their lands.
“Tinatawagan ko ulit ang DAR na pabilisin ang pamamahagi ng lupa at makipag-ugnayan sa iba’t-ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan upang makapagbigay ng malawakang serbisyo sa ating mga magsasaka.
In a separate interview, the President said the government would provide the needed assistance to agrarian reform beneficiaries to prevent them from eventually selling their lands.
“Kaya naman, ang programa ng DAR ay hindi lamang nabibigay ng titulo. Natuto na tayo. Kung titignan ninyo, ang programa, patuloy ang suporta. Suporta sa pamamagitan ng mga makinarya, suporta sa pamamagitan ng technical services, suporta sa pag-monitor, at lahat ng support services ay gagawin pa rin ng Department of Agrarian Reform para sa mga beneficiary,” he said.
“Kasama na diyan syempre ang DA. Marami silang programa. Maraming programa ang DA para maging successful, maging matagumpay naman ang pagsasaka nila ng kanilang bagong lupa na may hawak na sila ngayong titulo.”
He said the government is working to support farmers through the provision of new climate-adaptive rice varieties, fertilizers, mechanization, as well as farm-to-market roads.
The President added the government is also working to amend provisions of the Rice Tariffication law to stabilize the price of rice in the market.
“Ito’y ginawa natin para ma-control natin ‘yung presyo ng bigas dahil masyadong mabilis tumaas ang presyo ng bigas. Kaya’t kung pagbibigyan tayo ng ating Kongreso na makapag-import na, makikipagsabayan... Ito naman talaga ang unang --- kung bakit tinayo ang NFA,” the President said.
“Tinayo ang NFA para ayusin ang presyo, price stabilization. Kapag nag-aani, mababa ang presyo ng bigas, bumibili ang NFA para hindi naman masyadong mababa ang presyo ng bigas. Kapag naman tagtuyot o talagang pag summer, walang ani, magbibitaw sila ng supply para hindi naman tumaas masyado. Iyon ang gagawin natin ngayon.”
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