September 26, 2016 – News Releases

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26 September 2016
President Duterte all set for official visit to Vietnam
President Rodrigo Duterte is all set for an official visit to Vietnam on September 28 and 29, which aims to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.

In a pre-departure briefing in Malacañan on Monday, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Charles Jose said President Duterte is scheduled to meet with Vietnamese President Trần Đại Quang and to pay a courtesy call on other top leaders of the Vietnamese government.



Jose said the leaders are expected to discuss various areas of bilateral exchanges including maritime cooperation, enhancement of law enforcement and defense cooperation, increasing two-way trade and investments, strengthening joint cultural activities, as well heightened exchanges in agriculture and fisheries.



They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues, he added.



The President is likewise scheduled to meet with the Filipino community in Vietnam.



“Preparations have also been made for a meeting with the Filipino community in Vietnam who are expected to travel to Hanoi from various parts of the country,” Jose said adding that that is an estimated 3,800 Filipinos working and living in Vietnam.



The Foreign Affairs official noted that bilateral relations between the Philippines and Vietnam “have been growing and deepening steadily since formal ties were established on July 12, 1976.”



He said this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“The President’s visit to Vietnam at this time will add to the various commemorative activities being done by both the Philippines and Vietnam to celebrate this historical milestone,” Jose said.



“The President’s visit will also be an opportunity to solidify the strategic partnership between the two countries,” he added.



Jose likewise said that during the visit, President Duterte and his counterpart will be able “to set the direction and specific activities to be pursued in line with the vision of the joint statement on the establishment of strategic partnership between the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which was signed in Manila in November 2015.”
 


He also recalled the initial meeting between President Duterte and Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc’s which was held at the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits on September 6 to 8, 2016 in Vientiane, Laos. PND
President Duterte says he’ll forge strong trade alliance with Chinese, Russian businesses
President Rodrigo Duterte said he will visit China and Russia to open up the Philippines for Chinese and Russian investors. 

In a speech during the oath taking rites of new officials of the Malacanan Press Corps on Monday, President Duterte said he had discussions with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

But the President clarified that he would not break ties with the United States but will start stronger trade alliances with China and Russia.“I had a good talk with the prime minister, Medvedev. He is there awaiting for my visit. After China I will go to Japan and I’ll go to Russia,” he told reporters.

Among the sectors that would be opened for Russian and Chinese investors include telecommunications and commercial aviation, he said.

“May kapital kayo? You want to put up an airline here? Shipping here? You want land? Sixty years plus another 60 years. That is like a lifetime, more than. After 60 years, di mo na kailangan ‘yan factory mo,” he said.

President Duterte is set to be in Vietnam for his official visit there this week.

This will be the first visit of Duterte in Vietnam since he assumed the presidency last June 30.



With regard to China, the President reiterated that he would ask Chinese leaders to at least allow Filipino fishermen to fish in Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos.



“It is ours. If we are not really ready to talk about it, a hard sell, then I’ll just say that ‘allow my countrymen to fish there because it means food security,'” he said. PND
President Duterte honors centenarians,recognizes child-friendly LGUs
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday led the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016, a legislation that grants additional benefits and privileges to Filipino centenarians.
During the event, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said the Act is a tribute to Filipino centenarians who have spent their lifetime in contributing to nation building.
Under RA No. 10868, all Filipinos who have reached 100 years old and above, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, shall be presented a letter of felicitation from the President, congratulating them for his or her longevity.The said law also provides that a centenarian gift amounting to P100,000 be given to them.In the same event, President Duterte led the awarding ceremony for the Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities pursuant to Executive Order No. 184.Deserving local government units are recognized for their vital role in the sustained promotion of children’s rights to survival, development, protection, and participation as well as in ensuring child-friendly governance.


This year’s awardees include Davao City, Region XI for Highly Urbanized City Category; Santiago City, Region II for Independent Component City Category; Buenavista Guimaras, Region VI for 1st and 3rd Class Municipality Category, and; Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte, Region 1 for 4th and 6th Class Municipality.


In his speech, President Duterte said even when he was still mayor of Davao City, he had provided homes for the elderly and the “differently-abled” individuals.

“Ang Davao medyo ma-swerte. We have home for the aged, it’s a big one. It’s really big and we gather all those who are in the streets. Kaya lang ‘yung iba gusto talaga nila doon sa labas,” Duterte said.
 


“But we have a special unit that would gather them everyday, every night and bring them to the house of the aged. And, pati mga taga-gobyerno, nandoon na. It’s a big place and if you happen to pass by Davao, kindly let us know and we would show you how we dealt with the problem,” he added. PND