Marcos to always work to boost PH-China ties

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said the Philippine government will always work to strengthen its relations with China, after Beijing displayed what he called a “solid gesture of friendship” and donated over 20,000 metric tons (MT) of fertilizer to the country.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian turned over 20,000 MT or 400,000 bags of urea fertilizer during a ceremony at the National Food Authority warehouse in Valenzuela City on Friday.

In his speech, the President thanked China for the donation, which he said, is “a solid gesture of friendship and goodwill that is in keeping with our long and storied history of trade and cultural exchange.”

“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 there are many,” Marcos said.

“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,” he added.

Marcos said China’s urea fertilizer donation is timely, particularly as the administration sets its sights on boosting agricultural productivity to attain food security.

The fertilizers will be distributed to around 160,000 rice and corn farmers in Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan), 3 (Central Luzon), 4A (Calabarzon), and in Bicol that will cover 200,000 hectares at two bags per hectare. Calabarzon is Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon.

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. Indeed, it is through these kind deeds, especially those that can be felt by our people, that we reinforce the foundations of our bilateral ties— that of trust and of mutual benefit,” Marcos said.

“Soon, these donated goods will find their way to our Filipino farmers. They will be able to spend the savings gained from production costs [for] other things that matter to them and their families. We will make sure that the message of goodwill from our highly cherished donors will cascade to them and to the rest of our citizenry,” he added. — Catherine S. Valente

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