Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri is urging the Philippine and Japanese governments to begin exploratory discussions on forging a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries. “Speaking with Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko last year, I had brought up the idea of pursuing a VFA...
TOKYO, Japan — Amid the Philippines’ wish to have a visiting forces agreement (VFA) with Japan, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. thought having cooperation with Tokyo in this area would be a “good thing” as it introduces a new era of the Philippines-Japan ties. President...
India has signed with the Philippines an agreement that will serve as a framework for its upcoming projects in the country— a move that its top diplomat sees as "a milestone" in the bilateral relations of the two Asian nations. Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran on Monday inked...
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday, February 6 admitted he has qualms regarding the expanded Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and United States (US), saying he will study the latest development. “Masasabi ko, 50-50 ako dyan (I can say I am 50-50 in...
Senators on Friday, February 3 welcomed the expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States (US) saying they see it as a means to help promote regional stability and cooperation. “We should always be bold in our decisions based solely...
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, January 31 said the Department of Health (DOH) should now waive the existing non-disclosure agreements (NDA) on Covid-19 vaccines for the sake of transparency. Hontiveros said the NDAs with private manufacturers have already “outlived their purpose.” “At...
The Parañaque city government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development–National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) signed on Friday, Jan. 27, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the prepositioning of relief good in times of calamities and emergencies. Mayor Eric Olivarez represented the city...
The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and First Gen Corporation (First Gen) have forged ties to capacitate local government units (LGUs) in mainstreaming climate change and accessing the People's Survival Fund (PSF). Photo from the Climate Change Commission The ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of...
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda on Tuesday, January 17, expressed optimism that humanity could win the fight against climate change if global policies and actions are put in place and implemented to significantly cut down greenhouse gas emissions, similar to the effort against...
The decision of the Supreme Court to void the 2005 Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) among China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation (PETROVIETNAM), and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) is a welcome development. The...
The Department of Energy (DOE) has categorically declared that "no deal" was firmed up with the Chinese government on any joint oil and gas exploration activities at the disputed West Philippine Sea, including the Recto Bank which is reckoned as a gas-rich domain of the Philippines. Energy...
Fresh from the official state visit of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to China, Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz on Saturday, Jan. 7, expressed confidence that the 14 bilateral agreements signed by the Chief Executive there would bring “tangible projects” and...
