Author: lwadmin

MANILA: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has distributed over PHP1.37 billion in cash assistance to farmers, fisherfolk and their families affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the entire amount of the cash aid was handed over to some 137,333 beneficiaries from the select sectors in 17 towns in Cagayan Valley and some regions in the Visayas and Mindanao, each receiving PHP10,000 under the agency’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

‘This aid distribution is part of President Marcos’ Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and their Families (PAFFF) that aims to address the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon, especially on the agriculture and fisheries sectors,’ Dumlao, assistant secretary for Disaster Response Management Group, said in a news release on Tuesday.

The AKAP is the recently launched program of the DSWD that provides social aid to individuals who may not h
ave access to regular forms of assistance because they do not belong to the poorest population.

Of the total amount of assistance, Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao received the biggest chunk with PHP113.8 million for 11,385 recipients.

During the PAFFF distribution on June 28 in Bohol, where the President was joined by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the Chief Executive said in his speech that he has expanded the duties of the DSWD not just to provide assistance during typhoons and other calamities.

“Dahil sa aking pananaw, itong dinaanan natin na El Niño, na tagtuyot, ay krisis din. Kaya nandyan po ang DSWD para tumulong at magbigay ng tulong sa mga tinamaan at nahirapan dito sa pagdaan ng El Niño sa atin (From my perspective, the recent El Niño, the drought, is also a crisis. That’s why DSWD is here to help and provide assistance to those affected and struggling due to the impact of El Niño),’ the President told his Cebuano and Boholano audience during the distribution of various government assistance
at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Apart from cash assistance, the DSWD is also providing family food packs to El Niño-hit families and individuals nationwide.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Philippines and China have reaffirmed their commitment to de-escalating tensions in the South China Sea during their first formal dialogue since the violent skirmish between the Chinese Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines near Ayungin Shoal on June 17.

The two states convened the 9th Meeting of their Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) in Manila on July 2.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong led the Philippine and Chinese delegations, respectively, and had a ‘frank and constructive discussions’ on the situation.

In her comments, Lazaro told her counterpart that the Philippines would be ‘relentless in protecting its interests and upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.’

‘Noting recent incidents in the South China Sea, both sides recognized that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence, and create conditions conducive to
productive dialogue and interaction,’ the DFA said in a statement.

‘The two sides discussed their respective positions on Ayungin Shoal and affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions,’ it added.

The DFA said there was a ‘substantial progress’ on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but said ‘significant differences remain.’

The DFA has yet to provide details when asked what kind of measures the Philippines is pushing and what progress has been reached.

Meanwhile, both sides agreed to continue discussions to find a ‘mutually acceptable resolution’ to the issues.

Communication mechanisms

According to the DFA, the two sides signed the Arrangement on Improving Philippines-China Maritime Communication Mechanisms and agreed to discuss further how to operationalize this mechanism.

They also agreed to continue discussions on maritime cooperation between their coast guard authorities, including the possible resumption of the Joint Coast Guard
Committee.

The two sides likewise talked about the possibility of convening an academic forum among scientists and academics on marine scientific and technological cooperation.

‘Both sides agreed that continued dialogue on the basis of mutual respect as two equal sovereign states facilitates peace and stability at sea, and committed to having the 10th BCM in China to sustain the positive momentum on discussions,’ it said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Politburo member and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Do Van Chien successfully concluded a three-day working trip to France on July 2.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh and a delegation of NA deputies of Ninh Binh met with voters in the northern province’s Yen Mo and Gia Vien districts on July 2, following the conclusion of the 15th NA’s 7th session.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse Le Thi Bich Tran attended a banquet hosted by Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Han Duck-soo and his spouse in Seoul on July 2, as part of his official visit to the East Asian nation.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) in coordination with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Frankfurt city of Germany have organised a programme to promote Vietnam as a friendly, attractive and safe destination to key European markets in general and Germany in particular. Germany is one of Vietnam’s traditional and major markets in Europe, Khanh said, adding 200,000 German tourists visited the Southeast Asian nation last year, equivalent to 88% of the pre-COVID-19 level, making it the third largest source of tourists to Vietnam in the European Union (EU).

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Kim Jin-pyo, chairperson of the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s global innovation research association and former Speaker of the country’s National Assembly, in Seoul on July 2.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A ceremony was held at Ariyana Convention Centre in Da Nang on July 2 to open the second Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF II). The event, which was co-organised by the Vietnam Association of Film Promotion and Development, the Da Nang administration, and the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC), saw the presence of Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan. As many as 63 Vietnamese and international films will compete at the festival, which is scheduled to take place until July 7 in the central city. The event aims to select and honour excellent cinematographic works, encourage talents from both Vietnam and throughout the Asia-Pacific region, and widely introduce new and high-value Asian and Vietnamese cinematographic works to the public.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Woo Won-shik in Seoul on July 2 within the framework of his ongoing official visit to the country.

Source: Vietnam News Agency