<\/p>\n
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has urged members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries to support the Philippines\u2019 stand on issues involving the West Philippine Sea (WPS).<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He made the appeal in remarks on Friday in Makati City before the Trilateral Commission, a non-government organization that brings together regional and world leaders to discuss pressing concerns.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn the South China Sea, the Philippines faces complex challenges to its sovereignty, yet our commitment to a peaceful, lawful resolution remains resolute. We uphold the 2016 ruling as a testament to international law, a beacon that reminds us that might cannot make right, and that the world is governed not by whims, but by principles,\u201d Speaker Romualdez said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He was referring to the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration recognizing the country\u2019s 200-mile exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and rejecting China\u2019s expansive claims in the South China Sea, including areas inside the WPS.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe call upon all nations, great and small, to stand with us in defending this order. The Philippines believes that security cannot be built on the foundation of intimidation or unilateralism. True security is forged through trust, mutual respect, and adherence to rules that bind us all equally,\u201d Speaker Romualdez said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The leader of the 300-plus-strong Philippine House of Representatives said ASEAN plays a crucial role in promoting cooperation and a rules-based order in the region.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt is our hope that the Indo-Pacific becomes a region where cooperation prevails over confrontation, where nations build not barriers but bridges, and where peace is the shared inheritance of all,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Romualdez said while security is important, it should go hand-in-hand with economic progress. \u201cBut what is security without prosperity? What is peace without the promise of a dignified life? Economic resilience and inclusive growth are not mere aspirations; they are the pillars upon which we build societies that can withstand any storm,\u201d he added.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He pointed out that the Philippines aims to attain economic progress that is \u201cequitable and inclusive, lifting not just the privileged few but every Filipino family.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The House leader noted that such a task \u201cis monumental, as the shadows of inequality, inflation, and disrupted supply chains challenge our progress.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He stressed that the Philippines considers ASEAN \u201cas not just a region, but a community of shared destiny, where no member state must face these challenges alone.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe seek to strengthen our economies through partnerships, investments in infrastructure, and a commitment to digital transformation. Together, with the support of allies and friends, we are committed to building a resilient ASEAN that stands as a model for sustainable growth and shared prosperity. Let this vision be our compass, guiding us through this era of global recovery and beyond,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speaker Romualdez spoke of the challenges climate change and technology present on nations, particularly the Philippines. \u201cIf there is one challenge that unites us beyond all others, it is the existential threat of climate change. As a nation in the eye of the climate storm, the Philippines feels the urgency of this battle every day. Rising seas, super typhoons, and vanishing ecosystems are not distant possibilities; they are the present reality for millions of our citizens,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He said climate action must not be postponed or politicized and must be pursued \u201cwith the fervor of those who understand that their very survival depends on it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe Philippines is unwavering in its commitment to the Paris Agreement and calls upon every nation to honor both the letter and the spirit of these agreements. The climate crisis does not recognize borders, and therefore our response must transcend them as well. In partnership with our ASEAN neighbors, we are committed to pursuing climate resilience as a legacy for future generations,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has urged members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries to support the Philippines’ stand<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10217,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/martin-appeals.jpeg",1800,1350,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/martin-appeals-150x150.jpeg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/martin-appeals-300x225.jpeg",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/martin-appeals-768x576.jpeg",640,480,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/martin-appeals-1024x768.jpeg",640,480,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/martin-appeals-1536x1152.jpeg",1536,1152,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/martin-appeals.jpeg",1800,1350,false],"kreeti-slider-full":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/martin-appeals-1280x720.jpeg",1280,720,true],"kreeti-featured":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/martin-appeals-1024x768.jpeg",1024,768,true],"kreeti-medium":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/martin-appeals-720x530.jpeg",720,530,true],"kreeti-medium-square":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/martin-appeals-350x350.jpeg",350,350,true]},"author_info":{"info":["admin"]},"category_info":"National<\/a>","tag_info":"National","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10216"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10216"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10216\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10218,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10216\/revisions\/10218"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}