Latest news with #LaureBeaufils
GMA Network
17-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos expresses gratitude to outgoing British envoy
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Thursday expressed gratitude to outgoing British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, who served as envoy to the country for four years. 'Thank you, Ambassador Laure Beaufils, for your excellent work and friendship to the Filipino people,' Marcos said in his social media post. 'As we prepare to mark 80 years of PH-UK diplomatic relations, we are grateful for your efforts in strengthening our cooperation on defense, trade, education, and regional peace,' he added. Earlier today, Marcos met with Beaufils during a farewell call at Malacañang. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
17-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DepEd, DOTr, UK to build 'Education City' in Taguig
The Department of Education (DepEd), together with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the United Kingdom government, has launched a major infrastructure initiative aimed at making schools more accessible through smart transit planning and climate-resilient development. The project, called the Senate-DepEd (SEED) Transit-Oriented Development Project, aims to ease student commutes while reshaping public education spaces through the creation of Education City—a future-ready, 14-hectare complex to rise in Taguig City. 'This partnership ensures that our learners and educators will also directly benefit from a well-planned, green, and safe environment that ultimately contributes to the public education objectives,' said Education Secretary Sonny Angara. Planned at the junction of two major railway lines—the North-South Commuter Railway and the Metro Manila Subway Project—Education City will host green school buildings, open spaces, a central transport hub, teacher accommodation, and facilities for training and events. The development will also include commercial and residential areas designed to be walkable, connected, and sustainable. By integrating schools within well-connected communities, the SEED Project addresses long-standing barriers to access, especially for students in Metro Manila who face long and unsafe daily commutes. DepEd also expects the project to generate long-term revenues that could help fund new classrooms and support digital education programs nationwide. 'The UK is proud to bring in British expertise and innovation to pioneer a TOD where people can live, learn, work, and thrive — connected by efficient transport systems, designed with people at the heart, and guided by principles of sustainability and resilience,' said British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils. A working group will oversee the implementation of the project's second phase, which involves technical studies and the development of a formal proposal to be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for approval. Moreover, the initiative is backed by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through its Green Cities and Infrastructure Programme. It draws inspiration from London's Elizabeth Line and will be developed in collaboration with British experts, including Crossrail International. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Nations express concern over China assault vs. PH vessel in Sandy Cay
Several countries have expressed concern after a Chinese vessel fired a water cannon and sideswiped a Philippine ship in Sandy Cay on Thursday. These nations include the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Netherlands. US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson said the action of the China Coast Guard (CCG) threatens regional stability. 'The China Coast Guard's aggressive actions against a lawful ???????? civilian mission near Sandy Cay recklessly endangered lives and threaten regional stability. We stand with our ???????? allies in support of international law and a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,' she said. British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils condemned the CCG's activity and pointed out that international law must be observed. 'The UK condemns latest dangerous activity by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippines civilian vessels near Sandy Cay today, risking lives & raising tensions. A worrying escalation of behaviour. International law & the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award must be respected,' she said. The UK condemns latest dangerous activity by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippines civilian vessels near Sandy Cay today, risking lives & raising tensions. A worrying escalation of behaviour. International law & the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award must be respected. — Ambassador Laure Beaufils ???????? (@LaureBeaufils) May 22, 2025 European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro expressed support to the Philippines as he reiterated that the 2016 South China Sea arbitration must be upheld. 'Very concerned about the latest dangerous actions against Philippine civilian scientific vessels in the South China Sea. EU stands with PH and reiterates the importance of upholding UNCLOS and the rules-based international order, including the 2016 South China Sea arbitration,' he said. Very concerned about the latest dangerous actions against Philippine civilian scientific vessels in the South China Sea. ???????? stands with ???????? and reiterates the importance of upholding UNCLOS and the rules-based international order, including the 2016 South China Sea arbitration. — EU Ambassador to the PH ???????????????? (@EUAmbPH) May 22, 2025 Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said their country stands firm in defending a free and open Indo-Pacific following the Chinese vessel's use of water cannons against the Philippine ship. 'Very concerned about the dangerous actions including use of water cannons against th PH BFAR vessel. Japan upholds the rule of law & stands firm in defending a Free ? Open Indo-Pacific,' he said. Very concerned about the dangerous actions including use of water cannons against the???????? BFAR vessel.???????? upholds the rule of law & stands firm in defending a Free ? Open Indo-Pacific.#FOIP — Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines (@AmbJPNinPH) May 22, 2025 The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the involved parties to exercise restraint and resolve disputes peacefully. 'MOFA is deeply concerned by China Coast Guard's dangerous actions against #Philippine civilian vessels near Sandy Cay. Such coercion threatens regional peace. Taiwan stands with the Philippines & urges all parties to exercise restraint & resolve disputes peacefully,' it said. MOFA is deeply concerned by China Coast Guard's dangerous actions against #Philippine civilian vessels near Sandy Cay. Such coercion threatens regional peace. #Taiwan???????? stands with the #Philippines???????? & urges all parties to exercise restraint & resolve disputes peacefully. — ??? Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) ???????? (@MOFA_Taiwan) May 22, 2025 Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu said China's actions against the Philippines are dangerous and destabilising. 'Australia is concerned by the latest actions directed against the Philippines, which are dangerous and destabilising. We reiterate our call for peace, stability, and respect for UNCLOS in the South China Sea - a vital international waterway,' she said. Australia is concerned by the latest actions directed against the Philippines, which are dangerous and destabilising. We reiterate our call for peace, stability, and respect for UNCLOS in the South China Sea - a vital international waterway. — Australian Ambassador to the Philippines (@AusAmbPH) August 6, 2023 The New Zealand Embassy in Manila said the actions against Philippine ships are troubling as the use of water cannons and contact between vessels risk safety at sea. 'Yesterday's dangerous actions against PH scientific vessels near Sandy Cay are troubling. Use of water cannons and contact between vessels risks safety at sea. Peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in accordance with UNCLOS is fundamental to regional stability,' it said. The Embassy of Canada in the Philippines opposed China's coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea. 'Canada is alarmed by China's latest dangerous actions in the South China Sea, including the use of water cannons and ramming a civilian Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel conducting marine scientific research near Sandy Cay. We strongly oppose China's coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea, including near Sandy Cay,' it said. Meanwhile, the Netherlands' Ambassador to the Philippines Marielle Geraedts pointed out the importance of freedom of navigation following the incident in Sandy Cay. 'Freedom of navigation is important to us all. We are concerned about the use of watercanons and dangerous manouvres against civilian vessels today. The Netherlands stand with the Philippines in upholding #UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral ruling,' she said. Freedom of navigation is important to us all. We are concerned about the use of watercanons and dangerous manouvres against civilian vessels today. ???????? stand with ???????? in upholding #UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral ruling. — Marielle Geraedts (@geraedtsmariel) May 22, 2025 CCG vessel 21559 reportedly fired water cannon and sideswiped a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the WPS on Thursday. BFAR said its BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya were on a routine mission with a scientific team to collect sand samples in the area when the incident happened. CCG said that it took "control measures" against the Philippine vessels which it said "illegally intruded" into waters near Subi Reef and Sandy Cay. Liu Dejun, the CCG spokesperson, claimed that one of the Philippine vessels "dangerously" approached and collided with their ship, and that responsibility "lies entirely" with the Philippine side. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
