00:00House Speaker Martin Romualdez, members of the cabinet, and those who are accompanying
00:11us and those who will be holding the fort back home.
00:16First Lady Luis Araneta Marcos, Pasay District Representative Antonino Calixto, Pasay City
00:25Mayor Imelda Calixto Rubiano, AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Browner and the Major
00:35Service Commanders, and Philippine National Police Chief General Romel Marbil, Philippine
00:42Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Hill Gaban, my fellow workers in government, ladies
00:49and gentlemen, good afternoon.
00:51I depart today for Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic, to attend the 44th and
01:0045th ASEAN Summits and related summits at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Lao
01:07PDR, Sonaksay Sifandon.
01:11The annual ASEAN Summits are essential for the Philippines to discuss the issues confronting
01:17ASEAN countries on geopolitical matters and also on functional cooperation.
01:25In line with the theme of the ASEAN Chair this year on Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience,
01:32the ASEAN leaders will explore how we can promote regional connectivity amongst ASEAN
01:37member states, as well as to strengthen our resilience to promote sustainable development
01:43and inclusive growth.
01:45I will also be participating in meetings with ASEAN's external partners.
01:50These engagements pave the way to advance cooperation in areas such as food and energy
01:56security, trade and investment, supply chain resilience, MSMEs, and addressing the impacts
02:03of climate change and more.
02:06We will also be discussing international issues that impact beyond the region, including the
02:12West Philippine Sea, the situation in Myanmar, conflict in Ukraine, and the Middle East
02:18as well, among other important regional and international issues.
02:24As we continue to grapple with sharpening regional tensions, including the recent dangerous
02:30incidents in the West Philippine Sea, I intend to champion our advocacies in promoting an
02:36open, inclusive, and rules-based international order.
02:41And for the peaceful resolution of any disputes in accordance with international law.
02:47This Administration will continue to ensure that our constructive and deepening engagements
02:53with ASEAN, our dialogue partners, and stakeholders serve our national interests and the well-being
03:01of the Filipino people.
03:03As we speak, I think of our Filipino Kababayan who are affected by the increasing tensions
03:09in the Middle East.
03:11I wish to reassure the public that the Philippine Government is doing everything it can to ensure
03:17the safety of over 40,000 Filipino nationals in Lebanon and in Israel, and to bring them
03:24home so that they have a place that they can feel safe in, so long as they ask to come home.
03:33I am glad to report that no Filipino has been reported injured in the crisis that we hear
03:40about in the news, and to the waves of attacks against Hezbollah targets in the past few
03:46days and the consequent Iranian reprisal against Israel.
03:51Our embassies have been coordinating with the Filipino community on this matter and
03:56working on securing exit papers and transporting for those returning, transportation for those
04:03returning.
04:04Of the 1,500 initial applicants for repatriation from Lebanon, a third have already gone home,
04:13while another third, around 500, are still having their papers processed.
04:20The DFA will expedite this and OA will be chartering the flights to bring them home.
04:27For the month of October, the DMW and OA will be bringing home at least 162 distressed
04:34OFWs from Israel.
04:37Once they return to the Philippines, the DMW and OA are ready to provide assistance to them.
04:44To our fellow Filipinos in Lebanon and Israel, our government is ready to meet your needs.
04:53We hope that you will avail yourselves of our repatriation program while flights are available.
05:00In the meantime, heed the advisories of the Philippine Embassy and the Lebanese and Israeli governments.
05:07I expect the Secretaries of the DFA and the DMW and the Administrator of OA to report
05:14to me with updates daily.
05:18The Philippines urges all parties to refrain from escalating the violence and to work towards
05:24a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
05:27We emphasize the need to adhere to international humanitarian law, especially the principles
05:33of proportionality and distinction in response to security threats, and to ensure the protection
05:41of civilians at all times.
05:44The Philippines will always stand for the principles of international law and the safety
05:49of Filipinos in the Philippines and overseas.
05:53Maraming salamat at magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.
06:14For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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