RP-Indonesia enjoying peaceful co-existence

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 19): RP-Indonesia enjoying peaceful co-existence

The Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Indonesia are enjoying peaceful co-existence within its common borders thanks to the regular confidence-building activities between the two countries.

“There have been no major pressing issues between Indonesia and the Philippines when it comes to the common border for the past 32 years since the RP-Indonesia Border Agreement was signed in 1956,” said Lt. General Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III, Chairman of the Republic of the Philippine Border Committee and Commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command.

Representatives of the Philippines-Indonesia Border Committee Chairmen’s Conference signed on February 5, 2014 in Davao City several bilateral agreements that would improve political and economic relations between the two countries.

“While there were minor concerns involving the common fishing grounds, these were immediately resolved by the Committee,” Cruz said, although there were apprehensions made in the past by Indonesian authorities against Philippine fishing vessels while traversing the Indonesia EZZ en route to the high seas.

Eko Hanturo, Indonesia Consul General, said one of the major achievements of the Border Agreement is trust-building. “If something happens and problems arise within these borders, there will be a different level of engagement because of the level of confidence and trust,” he added.

Among the bilateral agreements signed during the Border Conference includes the following issues: safe passage of Philippine fishing vessel to Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EZZ), set guidelines on the type and size of vessels and the mandatory safety equipment on board the vessels in crossing the border, extend the area of coordinate patrol operation up to Sulu Islands, modify the concept of operation of coordinate patrol, harmonize border crossing stations standing operating procedure (SOP) in both the Philippines and Indonesia stations and assignment of custom personnel at border crossing stations to restrict transportation of contrabands, especially liquor across the border.

Under the previous Border Patrol and Crossing Agreement, a Customs Officer has already been designated at the Border stations to restrict the entry of contrabands and to enforce customs regulations when it comes to the entry of goods into the respective borders, he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=614399