月別: 2024年4月

UPDATE Japan, US, Australia and Philippines hold exercise in West Philippine Sea

/ Manila Shimbun

Japan, the United States, Australia and the Philippines successfully conducted the first maritime drill at the West Philippine Sea on Sunday.

The Multilateral Marine Cooperative Activity (MMCA), showed the naval vessels and aircraft from the four countries performing communication exercise, division tactics or Officer of the Watch maneuver, and a photo exercise within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

These activities were designed to enhance the different forces’ abilities to work together effectively in maritime scenarios, a statement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

Participants include the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar with AW109 helicopter, BRP Antonio Luna ( with AW159 Wildcat ASW helicopter, and BRP Valentin Diaz  from the Philippine Navy; the USS Mobile and a P-8A Poseidon from the United States Navy; the Royal Australian Navy HMAS Warramunga and Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft; and JS Akebono from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces.

The MMCA demonstrated the participating countries’ commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific through interoperability exercises in the maritime domain.

It will also contribute greatly to the AFP’s capability development.

China on Sunday conducted military “combat patrols” in the disputed South China Sea that coincided with the joint drills by the Philippines, the United States, Japan and Australia.

In a statement, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command said it was organizing “joint naval and air combat patrols in the South China Sea”.

The exercise should not be a reason to increase tensions in the West Philippine Sea, the Department of National Defense (DND) said.

In an interview, Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said this maritime activity should not raise tensions since it will be conducted in the country’s exclusive economic zone.

“ As I said it’s a show of unity. If they consider it as a show of force that is up to them but what we’re doing is something that’s practiced by all civilized nations in the world…and what is important is that we are doing this in the name of our national interest in the Philippines because I mentioned what we’re getting out of this is the enhancement of our capability and our interoperability with our partners,” he added. DMS-Jaspearl Tan

Marcos vows to develop Metro Manila’s nearby provinces, cities to address metropolis’ traffic

/ Manila Shimbun
Determined to address traffic congestion in Metro Manila, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed on Sunday to develop nearby provinces and cities as part of the administration’s long-term solution to the traffic problem in the metropolis.
In a five-minute video posted on his official YouTube channel, Marcos emphasized that developing nearby provinces and cities is one of the long-term traffic solutions as the population in Metro Manila continues to increase while construction of infrastructure projects is ongoing.
Marcos noted that providing equal opportunities outside Metro Manila is one of the best solutions to address traffic congestion in the metropolis.
“Habang patuloy ang pag-gawa ng ating mga tulay, flyover, skyway, subways, train systems, at iba pang mga imprastraktura, para sa transportasyon patuloy naman ang pag-dami ng populasyon natin at ang pag-dami ng mga sasakyan,” Marcos said.
“Congested ang Metro Manila, kung kaya bahagi talaga ng pag-paplano ay mai-develop ang mga kalapit na probinsya at siyudad. ‘Yan ang mga nakikita natin ngayon na developments. Ang Bulacan, Pampanga sa North at Cavite and Laguna sa South,” he added.
“Kaya pati ang mga kalye at tulay na papunta sa mga lugar na ‘yon ay patuloy ring pinapaganda pa. Pati na rin ang airport,” he said.
But the chief executive emphasized that all these development projects outside Metro Manila may take some time and may add problem to the traffic congestion before the motorists and commuters can feel the relief from gridlock.
He asked for people’s understanding as he assured them that a better traffic will be felt once all projects are complete.
“Malaking proyektong itong mga ito, kaya naman dapat nating isipin na hindi bukas na natin mararamdaman ito dahil malaki talaga ang scale at kung minsan pa nga ay nakakaabala pa dun sa mga traffic ngayon,” Marcos said.
“Kaya’t pag-tyagaan niyo lang, pero pagka-nabuo na ‘yan, asahan ninyo gaganda ang sitwasyon natin,” the chief executive added.
Marcos ordered government agencies during a recent Cabinet meeting to submit their recommendations, and on how their respective offices will adjust and configure their work environment, according to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
Balisacan said that Marcos wants to have a comprehensive and holistic approach in solving the traffic problem, not a “piecemeal approach” of the previous administrations, which appeared to be less effective. Presidential News Desk