Nag-alok ng pitong helicopters ang Indian government sa Pilipinas upang magamit sa rescue at humanitarian effort ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) tuwing mayroong kalamidad sa bansa.
“The discussion is going on very well. The Coast Guard is very interested – they’ve flown the helicopter … I would request your consideration because that would be a very positive [program],” —Ambassador Kumaran.
Sa courtesy call ni Indian Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Shambhu Kumaran sa Malacañang, sinabi ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na malaking tulong ito sa ginagawang pagpapalakas ng Pilipinas sa kapabilidad nito sa rescue at humanitarian effort.
“We’re trying to build up our capacity – our capabilities in terms of our coast guard, in terms of our – of course, the search and rescue is always the primary consideration,” —Pangulong Marcos.
Makakatulong rin aniya ito sa maritime operations ng PCG.
“As you heard the news, there is a continuing problem really that we have to deal with and we have to increase our capabilities,” —Pangulong Marcos.
Sa panig naman ng ambahador, sinabi nito na gumugulong na ang mga pag-uusap para dito.
“The discussion is going on very well. The Coast Guard is very interested – they’ve flown the helicopter … I would request your consideration because that would be a very positive [program],” —Ambassador Kumaran.
Samantala, sa kaparehong pulong, sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos na isinasapinal na lamang ng Pilipinas ang mga hakbang upang mapalawig ang electronic visa na ibininigay sa mga dayuhang nananatili sa bansa.
Tugon ito ng pangulo sa hiling mg ambahador na i-extend ang e-visa para sa Indian nationals sa Pilipinas.
“It won’t be just India, we are doing it with…several other countries as well to keep it. Again, we will just apply the same principles that we did with others – to India. But that is something that’s easy for us.” —Pangulong Marcos.
Sabi ni Pangulong Marcos, panimula lamang ito sa magandang balikatan ng Pilipinas at India, para sa mga susunod pang taon.
“That’s going to be a good beginning of a good exchange between our two countries,” —Pangulong Marcos. | ulat ni Racquel Bayan
