President Duterte: Second trip to Japan ‘most productive, engaging’

DAVAO CITY -- President Rodrigo Duterte arrived here on Tuesday from his Official Visit to Japan, describing it as “most productive and engaging.”

In his arrival statement, President Duterte said that he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and discussed concrete, time-bound and specific ways to

further intensify bilateral cooperation between Philippines and Japan.

“On top of our agenda is vital support for the centerpiece projects under the Philippines’ Build, Build, Build program,” President Duterte said.

The said program will cover a significant impact social infrastructure projects that the Philippines need to sustain economic growth and improve the quality of life of the Filipino people.

The Chief Executive added that more projects would be rolled off under Japan’s trillion yen or close to nine billion US dollars pledge of assistance.

He said that the Japanese Prime Minister has committed to “give flesh” to Japan’s special assistance program.

“I am committed to [working] closely with him to ensure that projects proceed soonest and it will be Done, Done, Done,” President Duterte said.

According to President Duterte, Philippines and Japan will intensify defense and security cooperation to combat terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crimes.

“We will strive to make our waters free and open to our peoples so that they can enjoy our rich natural maritime resources,” President Duterte said.

The President also thanked Japan for reaffirming its commitment to the Philippines’ pursuit of a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.

He said Japan would be the nation's partner in rebuilding Marawi as "the center of moderation and tolerance.”

President Duterte also mentioned that he and the Japanese Prime Minister discussed the perils of a nuclear war and other incidentals, particularly on the miscalculation of the atomic threat to any of the neighboring countries, notably China, South Korea and the peripheral neighboring nations.

He also said that the industry leaders in Tokyo signed business agreements valued at six billion dollars, more than thrice the amount sealed business agreements during his first visit to Japan in 2016.

 “We encouraged Japan to explore more opportunities to invest in the Philippines, including in steel manufacturing, agribusiness and IT and creative services,” he added.

President Duterte also said he looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Abe and other leaders to the Philippines in the upcoming 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

Meanwhile, the President said that he was humbled by the singular honor of meeting with Emperor Akihito in Tokyo and conveyed the Philippines’ deep appreciation, gratitude for Japan’s continuing friendship and support for the peace and development goals of the country.

“We want our relations with Japan to grow even more. Japan is our friend closer than a brother; Japan treats us as a sovereign equal,” he said, adding that the Philippines would work with Japan in building the "golden age” for the strategic partnership. PND

Batangas geothermal plant to start operation by December

By Leslie Gatpolintan

MANILA -- Listed PetroEnergy Resources Corp. (PERC) said on Monday the expansion project at the Maibarara geothermal power plant in Santo Tomas,

Batangas is currently being finished to meet target commercial operation this December.

Maibarara Geothermal Inc. (MGI) plant manager Paul Morala said the commissioning and testing of the 12-megawatt Maibarara-2 now “enter their final phases.”

PERC told the local bourse that MGI's 20-MW Unit-1 reached its 600-gigawatt hour (GWh) generation mark during the billing period ending Oct. 25, a milestone achieved more than three years from the start of the facility’s commercial operation.

 “Apart from the scheduled annual maintenance shutdowns, we have managed to minimize forced outages in the facility leading to very high capacity and availability factors,” said MGI President Francisco Delfin Jr.

The Maibarara-1 plant was recently declared as the Best Renewable Energy Project in the national grid category of the ASEAN Energy Awards 2017 held during the ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting in Manila last September.

MGI is 65 percent owned by PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC), 25 percent by Phinma Energy, and 10 percent by PNOC Renewables Corp. PGEC is the renewable energy holding firm of PERC. (PNA)

Duterte listens to public sentiments on drug war

MANILA -- The sentiments of the public were the main consideration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in his decision to let the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) take the lead on the “war on drugs”.



This was the statement of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” 



Dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa said the President was “frustrated” over the reaction of the public in the conduct of operations of the PNP in the war against illegal drugs that reflected in the Social Weather Stations survey results.



This was only a proof, he said, that President Duterte is not a dictator and that he is listening to the will of the public.



Hence, the PNP chief said, he “whole-heartedly” accepted the decision of the President and that he expressed his gratitude when he conversed with him.



He, however, admitted that they did not achieve the “total victory” in the war against illegal drugs.



But based on his assessment, Dela Rosa said, the PNP was “triumphant” because they were able to dismantle the drug laboratories in the country and the supply of drugs is now almost depleted.



The PNP chief noted that it was “very challenging” for them to have led the “war on drugs”.



Nevertheless, Dela Rosa said, the PNP had big contribution in the campaign against drugs wherein they have allotted 100 percent of their resources in order to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country. 

Voters registration for 2018 village, youth polls

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will hold another round of voters registration next month for those qualified to vote in the May 2018 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.



"We will open another voter registration period from Nov. 6 to 30 for those who were unable to register the last time," COMELEC Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said Friday.


Bautista urged Filipinos, particularly those who will turn 15 years old by May 14, 2018, to register for the youth polls.



Those who are qualified to register as regular voters are Filipino citizens who are at least 18 years old on or before Election Day; a resident of the Philippines for at least one year before Election Day; and a resident in the place where he/she proposes to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the elections.



On the other hand, registrants for SK voters should be Filipino; at least 15 years old but not more than 30 years old on or before Election Day; and is residing in the barangay for at least six months on or before Election Day.


President Rodrigo Duterte had signed Republic Act No. 10952 postponing the village and youth polls to May 2018.

Pres. Duterte leads Philippine Army's 58th change of command rites

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, October 5, reminded the members of the Philippine Army to remain loyal to the Constitution and to the people as he led the Philippine Army’s 58th change of command ceremony at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

“Maintain your loyalty to the Constitution and to the flag. Do not nurture a personal or a person diyan,” the President said in his address before the troops.

“Kaming lahat diyan sa gobyerno, dumadaan lang. But it behooves upon you, I said, to see to it that this country will grow, prosper until the end of time,” he said.

The President also said he wants to leave the presidency with a strong army and police that can respond to simultaneous attacks. But to achieve that goal, the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police must upgrade their equipment and capability to cope with the present challenges, especially in fighting terrorism, he said.

One of the President’s suggestions is for the Armed Forces to use its properties and forge join ventures with the private sector. The AFP could enter into long-term lease agreements to fund its modernization program.

“I’ll give you this place. Lahat ito with a one sole condition. ‘Yung lahat kikitain ninyo diretso sa inyo. At gawain ninyo ang gusto ninyong gawin to modernize. Pera ‘yan. Malaking pera ‘yan. Just start to lease here --- trillion ito. But I would need the money in the coming years also to meet your expenses,” Duterte said.

“Buy all the equipment you need to meet the challenges way, way ahead,” he said. He also said that soldiers and policemen will also receive a higher pay by January next year.

The President meanwhile praised the country’s soldiers after a recent survey showed that the Philippine Army got an impressive +75 net trust rating in the first semester of 2017.

“It’s a testament of the troops’ commitment to protect the people and defend the democratic rights,” Duterte said.

Duterte also commended the AFP and the PNP for their efforts to quell rebellion in Marawi City.

“As an experience from the Middle East, it takes a lot, about half a year or three months. And I am not surprised and you should not be surprised that it has taken this long really to move inch for inch. Because of the prepositioned maneuvers by the enemies and the fact that you have to breach semento pati bakal. And that takes a lot of hard work,” he said.

“Maswerte tayo dito, in a very short time and I would credit it to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the toil of the Philippine National Police. Hindi ho madali ‘yung trabaho na ‘yan,” he added.

The President also mentioned the ongoing campaign against communist insurgents. “We are fighting the New People’s Army. At this stage, I am not ready to talk to them because it is not good for the country. Eh kung para lang sa bayan, okay ‘yan. But the way that it is now, ayaw ko. And maybe it would take some time to… maybe another President to do it,” he said.

President Duterte meanwhile said outgoing Army chief Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda will join the board of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). Major General Rolando Bautista, former head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), succeeded Miranda as Army chief. (PND)

Coat of Arms of the Philippines The Philippine News Agency is a web-based newswire service of the Philippine government under the supervision of the News and Information Bureau (NIB) of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).