Tag: West Philippine Sea

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Lacson Bares Expectations from President Duterte’s Final SONA

Image: CTTO

What is the status of the government’s vaccination program, and its fight against corruption? Are we better off than when President Rodrigo Duterte started his term in 2016? What can be done in the last year of his term?

These are among the questions that Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson hopes the President will address in his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) this July.

“After five years, where are we now, or what is the situation in the many aspects of his administration such as peace and order, fight against illegal drugs, corruption, economy, and foreign policy, particularly the West Philippine Sea? We want to hear what happened in the last five years – and moving forward for the last year of his administration, what can still be done?” Lacson said at a media forum in Manila on Sunday.

“But it is critical to update us on the government’s response to the pandemic. This includes the status of the government’s vaccination program. This is important because many Filipinos still do not trust the vaccine. In the meantime, the government must continue its campaign to gain the people’s trust in vaccines, based on science,” he added.

Basahin sa TAGALOG: Mga Inaasahan sa Huling SONA ni Pangulong Duterte, Isiniwalat ni Ping
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On the Challenges Facing a Leader

Sailing into the sea is the easiest decision to make. Not knowing how rough the water is the dangerous part. Measuring one’s skills in steering the boat is a big responsibility especially when people’s lives depend on it. Best to think long and hard. It is not a game or a joke.

This applies to everyone, actually. Consider the following:

* Outstanding national debt of P10.774 trillion as of March 2021, ballooning to P10.991 trillion as of April 2021

* 3.44 million Filipinos out of jobs as of March 2021

* Shortfall in revenue collections, with revenues at P2.84 trillion already including non-tax revenues like dividends, fees, etc., compared to the original target of P3.25 trillion, based on the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s 2019 projections for the 2020 General Appropriations Act.

Then there’s the continued uncertainty of the pandemic situation in the country and the whole world, not to mention a whole lot of other problems that will confront the next administration like the West Philippine Sea, illegal drugs, corruption and even issues surrounding the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and God knows what else.

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On Former Senate President Enrile’s Inputs on the WPS Issue

I agree with former Senate President Enrile: We should not abandon whatever dealings or negotiations with China are underway or in the pipeline as we speak. Diplomacy should be our first, if not best, option.

But neither should we disregard other options available, not only to finally resolve the West Philippine Sea issue but to provide the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.

As I have repeatedly suggested, we should build stronger alliances with other militarily powerful and capable countries who may be willing to help our cause as it would also advance their own national interests if they maintain their presence alongside our naval assets in the vicinity of the WPS.

That said, it bears repeating that the initiative should come from a united Filipino people with a united stand – not the continued bickering that only the Chinese government will applaud.

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Ping, May Mungkahing Solusyon sa Chinese Vessels sa WPS

Dahil hindi na nakakagulat ang muling pagkumpulan ng mga Chinese maritime militia vessel sa bahagi ng West Philippine Sea, dapat nang mag-isip ng kagyat at epektibong paraan ang mga awtoridad upang maitaboy ang mga ito, ayon kay Senador Panfilo Lacson.

Isa sa mga hakbang na nakikita ni Lacson bilang solusyon ay ang paggamit ng parliamentary-to-parliamentary channels o pag-uusap ng mga Kongreso ng mga bansang magkakaalyado, upang matiyak ang balance of power sa rehiyon.

“We are not really surprised. In a way, we even anticipated the return of the Chinese vessels because the vessels that were in the area earlier were most likely just surveying. Their job was to scout the land and not yet occupy. Ngayon nagbalikan na,” pahayag ni Lacson, chairman ng Senate committee on national defense, sa panayam ng DZBB.

Related: Lacson: ‘Return’ of Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels in WPS an Urgent Wake-Up Call
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Lacson: ‘Return’ of Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels in WPS an Urgent Wake-Up Call

The reported “return” of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea should be an urgent wake-up call for Filipinos to unite and come up with one strong stand on the issue, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson stressed Thursday.

Lacson also said it is time to explore further possibilities, including using parliamentary-to-parliamentary channels, to ensure a balance of power in the region.

“We are not really surprised. In a way, we even anticipated the return of the Chinese vessels because the vessels that were in the area earlier were most likely just surveying. Their job was to scout the land and not yet occupy. Ngayon nagbalikan na (Now they’re back),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

Related: Ping, May Mungkahing Solusyon sa Chinese Vessels sa WPS
Continue reading “Lacson: ‘Return’ of Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels in WPS an Urgent Wake-Up Call”