Lorenzana, new Pentagon chief talk VFA, South China Sea
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 10:19 a.m.) — Top defense officials of the Philippines and the United States discussed the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the South China Sea in an introductory phone call.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III discussed priority bilateral defense issues for both countries, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said.
Austin reaffirmed Washington's commitment to the decades-long alliance between the two countries, as well as to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and VFA.
"The Secretaries discussed the importance of enhancing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ capabilities and increasing interoperability between our two militaries through a variety of bilateral security cooperation activities," Kirby said.
They also talked about regional security challenges such as the South China Sea, counterterrorism and maritime security.
The two secretaries also affirmed the importance of upholding international rules and norms, including the July 2016 arbitral ruling of a United Nations-backed tribunal, which favored the Philippines.
In a separate statement, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Lorenzana and Austin discussed the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea situation, particularly on the capability upgrades of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
"Both sides committed to sustain dialogues amidst the pandemic and strengthen cooperation between the two defense establishments. They agreed to meet face-to-face in the future," the DND said.
US Secretary of State Antony earlier made similar pronouncements in a phone call with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.
The US Department of State said Blinken reiterated that Washington rejects Beijing's maritime claims in the South China Sea, which overlaps with the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.
While the arbitral tribunal invalidated China's so-called nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea, Beijing ignored the landmark ruling and insisted that it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the contested waterway.
"Secretary Blinken stressed the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty for the security of both nations, and its clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea," US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price earlier said.
These pronouncements come after China passed a law allowing its coast guard to fire at foreign vessels in areas they claim as part of their territorial waters.
Locsin had filed a diplomatic protest against this new rule, which he described as a "verbal threat of war."
The Chinese Embassy in Manila, however, insisted that it was not a threat of war and does not "specifically target any certain country."
The US government establishes a five-year grant worth P800 million to promote natural resource conservation, and ecosystem and community resilience, by supporting civil society organizations in advocating for, and participating in, good natural resource governance.
The grant will be launched through the Investing in Sustainability and Partnerships for Inclusive Growth and Regenerative Ecosystems (INSPIRE) project.
“Through the INSPIRE project, USAID is pleased to support the Philippines’ efforts to conserve the country’s rich biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of climate change while making sure that the environment continues to benefit many Filipinos whose incomes depend upon these natural resources," USAID Acting Mission Director Sean Callahan says.
The United States Embassy in the Philippines launches a livelihood program for those who are recovering from substance abuse order.
In partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the US Embassy's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is providing PhP5 million ($100,000) to support the "Ako ang Saklay" program.
“Livelihood programs, such as those facilitated by Ako ang Saklay, can result in quality-of-life changes for persons who use drugs, their families, and their communities,” INL representative Mark Everson says.
The US Peace Corps, in partnership with the DepEd, concludes a series of virtual trainings for educators on using newly developed distance training materials.
The training ran from October 12 to 29, which involved 1,000 teachers, principals and supervisors from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
“Studies show that high-quality instructional materials significantly increase academic outcomes by allowing students to engage more deeply and meaningfully with their learning. This has never been more important than now, with students still schooling online due to the ongoing pandemic,” DepEd Bureau of Learning Delivery Director Leila Areola says.
USAID launches a five-year project worth P750 million ($15 million) to build climate resilience in the Philippines.
The Climate Resilient Cities project will help cities in the country to mitigate, and endure the impacts of climate change by increasing their access to climate financing and tools to build resilience, the US Embassy says.
"Addressing the climate crisis, and particularly the vulnerability of cities, is crucial to helping build a more prosperous, resilient Philippines for current and future generations," USAID Philippines Acting Mission Director Sean Callahan says.
US military service members on Tuesday delivered ICU beds and COVID-19 cold storage units wort P758,750 to the Palawan provincial government.
The donation was made in response to the request of the Palawan provincial government amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in the province, the US Embassy says in a media release.
“This donation will help the people of Palawan a lot by upgrading our ability to fight against the pandemic. It comes at the perfect time due to the surge of new cases and will help us face this new challenge," Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Office director Jeremias Alili says.
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