President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made an assurance on Friday that the government will always work to strengthen the Philippines-China ties, as he led the turnover of 20,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer donated by the country’s giant Asian neighbor.
“I assure the Chinese government that the Philippines will always work for the strengthening of our ties and the advancement of our mutual interests, and they are many,” President Marcos said during the ceremonial turnover of the fertilizer in Valenzuela City.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Huang Xilian turned over 20,000 MT or 400,000 bags of urea fertilizer inside the National Food Authority warehouse in Valenzuela City.
“As we walk to the next half-century of our diplomatic ties, let this day be a celebration of many things for us: the diligence and hard work of our farmers; our realizable goal of food self-sufficiency; and, the lasting, beneficial impact of the longstanding friendly ties between our two nations,” the President stated.
He stated that China’s kind deeds, especially those that could be felt by Filipinos, reinforce the foundations of the two nations’ bilateral ties based on trust and mutual benefit especially as the Philippines and China commemorate this month the 48th year of formal diplomatic relations.
The President also thanked the Chinese government for providing Php4 million worth of rice assistance to the evacuees of the continued unrest of Mayon Volcano in Albay as reported by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
“In keeping with this generosity that we, today, are the beneficiaries from the People’s Republic of China…Secretary Rex has just informed yesterday that China has also provided Php4 million worth of rice for relief goods for those evacuees in the Mayon Volcano area,” President Marcos said.
“So these generous acts symbolize the value of the relationship between our two countries. We must continue to nurture. We must continue to care for that, through acts of mutual assistance and of constant and amicable dialogue,” he added.
China’s urea fertilizer donation is timely, particularly as the administration sets its sights on boosting agricultural productivity to attain food security, Marcos said.
The fertilizers will be distributed to around 160,000 rice and corn farmers in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, and in Bicol that will cover 200,000 hectares at two bags per hectare. The regions will get the fertilizers and will be distributed to the farmers through vouchers to be issued by the local government units (LGUs).
The donation was part of the commitment when the President made the state visit to China and met President Xi Jinping in Beijing last January.
As the donated goods find their way to the Filipino farmers, Marcos said it could result in production cost savings, benefiting them and their families.
Thanking the Chinese government, he said: “So, in behalf of the Filipino people, let met extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Chinese Government and its people for this donation—a solid gesture of friendship and goodwill that is in keeping with our long and storied history of trade and cultural exchange.”
Marcos met the Chinese President in Beijing during a state visit last January and had discussions on infrastructure, climate change, renewable energy, people-to-people ties and agricultural cooperation. (PND)
