PH-China disaster relief partnership should be explored—Tolentino
Senator Francis N. Tolentino on Monday, July 31, said he favors the Philippines having a joint disaster relief effort with the People’s Republic of China.
Sen. Francis Tolentino (Senate PRIB Photo)
“It’s a more feasible scenario for the Philippines amid proposal for Manila and Beijing to conduct joint maritime patrols along the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea (WPS),” Tolentino said during an interview with Super Radyo DZBB. “Ang mas nakikita kong pupwede sa ngayon—joint disaster team (What is feasible is a joint disaster team.) Kasi po may tinatawag na HADR (This is called HADR). Ito po yung humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (This is a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief),” the senator said. “Kung gusto nilang tumulong doon sa nabaha sa atin, payagan natin kasi mayroon naman pong U.N. resolution ito (If they want to help, let us allow it because this is based on a United Nations resolution),” he also said. Tolentino cited United Nations (UN) Resolution Nos. 46-182 and 58-114 which are both imbued with principles on humanity, partiality, and independence. “Kapag yung humanitarian-disaster (efforts), kapag may relief—tayo nga nakapasok sa Turkey—pinapayagan naman iyon (We were able to send relief to Turkey when earthquake hit that country) Ang kundisyon ko lang, kapag tumulong sila sa relief at disaster assistance (dito sa Pilipinas), payagan din tayong pumasok sa China (If China is allowed to send relief to the Philippines, the Philippines should also be allowed to enter China),” he said. Tolentino, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, stressed that it’s hard for the Philippine government to accept Beijing’s proposal for the conduct of bilateral patrol in WPS, considering that China is not a treaty ally nor has the Philippines had any existing mutual defense treaty with the Asian economic superpower. “Kung magkakaroon ng joint patrol (kasama ang China), dapat po ito maging bahagi ng isang tratado na may concurrence ang Senado (If there will be a joint patrol with China, this is should be under a treaty concurred in by the Senate,” he explained.