Binay leaves for South Korea

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay left yesterday for South Korea to attend the 2nd Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul.

In his departure statement, Binay vowed to present the Philippines with an opportunity to learn and promote wide awareness and understanding of nuclear security.

“We shall be discussing nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,” he said.

The summit will be attended by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US President Barack Obama and more than fifty heads of state around the world.

“We shall be exploring various ways of enhancing global nuclear security and safety, in the face of the continuing spread of nuclear weapons and radioactive materials around the world, and the nuclear disaster during last year’s earthquake-tsunami in Fukushima, Japan,” Binay said.

He said the Philippine government has been a “vigorous” participant in setting up the legal framework for global nuclear security.

“The Philippines sits in the drafting committee of the conference, and has been active in all the various stages leading to this summit,” Binay said. He added that his visit will also give him the opportunity to meet key Korean government officials as the summit coincides with the bilateral celebration of the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.

“While in Seoul, I will also be meeting with the Filipino community in my capacity as presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) concerns, chairman of HUDCC, and chairman emeritus of the Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking (IACAT),” Binay said.

The Philippine government is a signatory to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (CPPNM), one of 13 counterterrorism instruments in force and the only internationally legally binding undertaking in the area of physical protection of nuclear materials used for peaceful purposes.

According to the Vice President, the Philippine government is also a signatory to the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), which was adopted under the auspices of the United Nations.

In 2010, the Philippines’ permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Libran Cabactulan, chaired the review of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in the UN.

Binay said the review conference adopted by consensus a historic and comprehensive final outcome document containing 64 action points promoting the three pillars of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, namely, nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

“This is an important mission for the President, our country and our people. For the safety and success of our delegation, I implore your unfailing prayers,” he said.