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House Pledges Peace and Unity Following Marawi City Bombing


Quezon City, Philippines – Following a tragic bombing incident in Marawi City, Mindanao, Speaker Martin Romualdez of the House of Representatives reiterated the House’s commitment to fostering peace and unity in the Philippines. This statement was made during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the House premises in the Batasan Complex, Quezon City. Romualdez highlighted the recent events in Mindanao as a reminder of the ongoing responsibilities of the House in bridging divisions, ensuring security, and fostering unity among Filipinos.



According to Philippines News Agency, the bombing in Marawi City serves as a stark reminder of the need for continued efforts towards peace and unity in the nation. He expressed the House’s unwavering commitment to these goals, emphasizing its role in promoting peace, comfort, security, and understanding. Furthermore, Romualdez reiterated his support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s initiative to reopen peace negotiations, viewing it as a significant step towards national healing and unity.



Romualdez described the President’s decision to resume peace talks as a courageous step towards reconciliation, highlighting the government’s dedication to resolving conflicts through dialogue. He called for the collective support of the government, civil society, and the public in this peace process, emphasizing the importance of unity in overcoming past barriers and building a stronger Philippines.



Additionally, Romualdez stressed that the peace negotiations represent an opportunity to heal divisions within the country, emphasizing that the talks are more than a political maneuver and hold moral significance. He encouraged embracing this opportunity to create a peaceful future for all Filipinos.



In a related development, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Ziaur-Rahman Alonto Adiong urged the House to review the charter of Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City, along with its security plans, policies, and relevant laws impacting the region’s peace and order situation. Adiong, in a privilege speech, highlighted the necessity of supporting MSU, considering its size and significance as the region’s premier state university. He emphasized the urgency of improving MSU’s capabilities to prevent future tragedies.



Condemning the recent bombing as a deliberate and heinous act, Adiong echoed President Marcos Jr.’s statement that the incident was an assault on peace. He emphasized that MSU should not become a ground for destabilization and described the university as a melting pot and a symbol of unity among diverse cultures and ethnicities in Mindanao. Adiong stressed the gravity of attacking a university, viewing it as an assault on hope and the future, and called for efforts to maintain peaceful coexistence among MSU’s diverse student body.

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House Pledges Peace and Unity Following Marawi City Bombing


Quezon City, Philippines – Following a tragic bombing incident in Marawi City, Mindanao, Speaker Martin Romualdez of the House of Representatives reiterated the House’s commitment to fostering peace and unity in the Philippines. This statement was made during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the House premises in the Batasan Complex, Quezon City. Romualdez highlighted the recent events in Mindanao as a reminder of the ongoing responsibilities of the House in bridging divisions, ensuring security, and fostering unity among Filipinos.



According to Philippines News Agency, the bombing in Marawi City serves as a stark reminder of the need for continued efforts towards peace and unity in the nation. He expressed the House’s unwavering commitment to these goals, emphasizing its role in promoting peace, comfort, security, and understanding. Furthermore, Romualdez reiterated his support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s initiative to reopen peace negotiations, viewing it as a significant step towards national healing and unity.



Romualdez described the President’s decision to resume peace talks as a courageous step towards reconciliation, highlighting the government’s dedication to resolving conflicts through dialogue. He called for the collective support of the government, civil society, and the public in this peace process, emphasizing the importance of unity in overcoming past barriers and building a stronger Philippines.



Additionally, Romualdez stressed that the peace negotiations represent an opportunity to heal divisions within the country, emphasizing that the talks are more than a political maneuver and hold moral significance. He encouraged embracing this opportunity to create a peaceful future for all Filipinos.



In a related development, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Ziaur-Rahman Alonto Adiong urged the House to review the charter of Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City, along with its security plans, policies, and relevant laws impacting the region’s peace and order situation. Adiong, in a privilege speech, highlighted the necessity of supporting MSU, considering its size and significance as the region’s premier state university. He emphasized the urgency of improving MSU’s capabilities to prevent future tragedies.



Condemning the recent bombing as a deliberate and heinous act, Adiong echoed President Marcos Jr.’s statement that the incident was an assault on peace. He emphasized that MSU should not become a ground for destabilization and described the university as a melting pot and a symbol of unity among diverse cultures and ethnicities in Mindanao. Adiong stressed the gravity of attacking a university, viewing it as an assault on hope and the future, and called for efforts to maintain peaceful coexistence among MSU’s diverse student body.

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Philippine Creative Industries Law Boosts Support for Local Artists


Dagupan City, Pangasinan – In Dagupan City, Pangasinan, the recently implemented Philippine Creative Industries Development Act is already showing positive impacts, particularly for local artists. This year’s Anakbanwa Arts Residency Program, a direct benefit of the new law, has engaged five resident artists and approximately 110 students in the province.



According to Philippines News Agency, the author of the law, also known as Republic Act 11904, the legislation has significantly enhanced support for the creative industry. He noted that the arts residency program, fully funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), offers nationwide opportunities for artists.



De Venecia, in a phone interview on Monday, explained that the initiative aims to provide creatives with a platform to showcase their work. The program also promotes not just the artists’ creations but also their districts, contributing to the boost in local tourism. The Anakbanwa Arts Residency Program in the province’s fourth district commenced in 2021 with three participants and expanded to five resident artists in the following year.



The push for the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act began during the pandemic, a period when many artists faced job losses. De Venecia highlighted the significant contribution of the creative industry to the domestic economy, citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data that reported around PHP 1.6 trillion contributed by the sector in 2022.



The works produced by this year’s participants in the Anakbanwa Arts Residency Program will be on display at the MacArthur House in Dagupan City from December 3, 2023, to January 19, 2024.

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BOC-Clark Intercepts PHP700K Worth of Cocaine Disguised as Clothing


Clark, Pampanga – Over PHP700,000 worth of cocaine, falsely declared as clothing, was seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) officers at Clark, Pampanga, the bureau reported on Monday.



According to Philippines News Agency, Port of Clark District Collector Erastus Sandino Austria, the interception occurred on November 22 when a parcel containing 135.24 grams of cocaine, valued at PHP716,772, was discovered. The shipment, originating from Los Angeles, California, was incorrectly declared to contain hoodies and t-shirts.



The illicit drugs were detected through K9 sniffing and x-ray scanning procedures. Following the seizure, samples were sent to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for chemical analysis, confirming the substance as cocaine, classified as a dangerous drug under Republic Act (RA) 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Austria has since issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipment for violating RA 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, in relation to RA 9165.

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Morning digest December 4


The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.

-Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse and the Vietnamese delegation arrived in Hanoi late December 3, concluding their working trip to attend the World Climate Action Summit within the framework of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), bilateral activities in the UAE and pay an official visit to Turkey from November 29 to December 3.

During the five-day trip to the UAE and Turkey, the PM attended around 60 activities both bilateral and multilateral. Besides participating in and speaking at conferences and events within COP28, he held bilateral meetings and working sessions with more than 30 leaders of countries, international organistions and world leading enterprises. He also met with leaders of the UAE and Turkey, and attended bilateral conferences and forums with the two countries-Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 1 announced a Resourc
e Mobilisation Plan to implement the political declaration on establishing a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) between Vietnam and the International Partnership Group (IPG), on the occasion of his attending the COP28 in Dubai, the UAE.

The announcement ceremony took place in the presence of President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen, ministers and high-level representatives of many IPG member states including the UK, Japan, Germany, Italy, Canada, Denmark, the Vice Chair of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), along with leaders of some international organisations, financial institutions and funds

-The PM attended the Group of 77 (G77) summit on climate change in Dubai on December 2 (local time), as part of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change there.

The event was chaired by President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez of Cuba, which holds the 2023 chairmanship of G77 – a group of developing countries. It
saw the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and leaders and representatives of 134 member states of G77 and international organisations. -PM Chinh called on the international community to strengthen solidarity, take drastic and effective actions, and make greater efforts for the prosperous development of humankind while addressing the World Climate Action Summit within the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, the UAE, on December 2.

The Vietnamese leader expressed his concern over the increasingly serious impacts of climate change amid the big gap between climate commitments and actions, and dispersed resources for climate change response due to competition, separation, war and conflict-Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on December 1 held talks with Politburo member, Director of the Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, who is in Vietnam for co-chairing the 15th Meeting of
the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.

The two sides compared notes on the Vietnam-China relations and measures to further promote the coordination role of the two foreign ministries in implementing high-level common perceptions and results reached at the 15th Meeting of the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation; and continue deepening the bilateral relations, thus contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world. -The 15th Meeting of the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation was held in Hanoi on December 1 under the co-chair of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Politburo member, Director of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s Foreign Affairs Commission Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed new development steps in the bilateral relations since the 14th meeting in July 2022, agreeing that the Vietnam-China comprehensive strate
gic cooperative partnership has maintained a positive development momentum and achieved many important results. -The 13th National Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) for the 2023-2028 tenure opened in Hanoi on December 2, bringing together 1,100 delegates representing more than 11 million trade union members nationwide.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, along with many senior Party, State and Government officials joined representatives of big corporations and economic groups, and international delegates at the event. -A delegation from the Foreign Ministry led by Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang paid a visit to Cambodia from November 30 to December 3 to strengthen cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Within the framework of the visit, the delegation made a courtesy call to Permanent Secretary of State of Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sea Kosal a
nd Permanent Secretary of State of Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior Mao Chandara; and had meetings with Secretary of State of Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior Keat Chantharith and Deputy Governor of Phnom Penh Nuon PharatVietnam has won the World’s Leading Heritage Destination 2023 title of the World Travel Awards for the fourth time so far, reported the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

The award presentation ceremony recently took place in Dubai.

Together with the title obtained in 2019, 2020, and 2022, this time’s award shows the globally outstanding values and attractiveness of the country’s cultural heritage to the international community, the authority said. Vietjet Air has inaugurated a new route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and China’s Shanghai, facilitating convenient and easy travel for both residents and tourists.

Vietjet’s Ho Chi Minh City – Shanghai route operates with seven round trips per week, with a flight time of just over 4 hours per leg.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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HCM City hopes to contribute to advancing Vietnam-Indonesia relations


Ho Chi Minh City always values the Vietnam-Indonesia relationship and desires to join Vietnam’s efforts to promote the relations, contributing to building a shared vision for an ASEAN community of solidarity, peace, and prosperity, affirmed Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan.

Making his remarks at a December 4 ceremony held by the Indonesian Consulate General in the southern city to mark the 68th anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic ties (December 30, 1995-2023), Hoan stressed that the traditional friendship, founded by late President Ho Chi Minh and late President Soekarno, is developing strongly, extensively, and effectively in both bilateral and multilateral aspects.

At the ceremony, Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi stated that elevation of the two countries’ ties to a strategic partnership in 2013 has brought about greater growth to both. They have jointly promoted bilateral cooperation within the framework of ASEAN and on the international stage. Together, the
y have faced challenges such as the pandemic, economic recession, food crisis, wars and conflicts, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

Indonesia welcomes strong and effective cooperation with Vietnam, especially in key areas like high technology, renewable energy, digital economy, industry, and agriculture. Such collaboration will help elevate their efforts in promoting a sustainable economy and vision to become high-income economies by 2045.

Indonesian Consul General Agustaviano Sofjan expressed his confidence that cooperation between the Vietnamese and Indonesian governments, businesses, and people will continue to play a crucial role in consolidating and bringing tangible value to their strategic partnership, as well as contributing to making ASEAN the epicentrum of growth./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency