DFA monitoring Pinoys in Bangladesh; Release of 3 Pinoy sailors in Houthi custody sought
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday the government was ready to provide assistance to the 700 Filipinos in Bangladesh as it also called for the “peaceful transition” of power in the country which has been rocked by violent protests.
“The Philippine government is closely monitoring the developing situation in Bangladesh. The Philippines calls for the peaceful and orderly transition of power,” the DFA said in a statement. Protests have broken out in Dhaka as students demanded an end to the government’s decades-old quota system for public service posts which reserved at least 30 percent of these for the descendants of those who fought for the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971.
Local media reports said that nearly 100 civilians and law enforcers have been killed due to the unrest which led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Aug. 5, ending her 15-year rule. Since Aug. 2, the DFA has placed Bangladesh under Alert Level 1, which means Filipinos there should stay indoors. — JACOB LAZARO
Release of 3 Pinoy sailors in Houthi custody sought
Three Filipino seafarers who remain in the custody of Houthi rebels in Yemen have recovered from malaria with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) saying it was seeking their release under humanitarian grounds.
“So, we are making our appeal to them through our honorary consul, [Mohammad Saleh] Al-Jamal. He is based in Sana’a, the capital of the rebel part of Yemen, which is not recognized by the Philippine government,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer said on Tuesday. The three were among the 17 Filipino crew members of MV Galaxy Leader that was hijacked by the rebels in November 2023 in the Red Sea. — JACOB LAZARO
Veterinary drugs under FDA, not BAI
FDA director general Dr. Samuel Zacate made the clarification on Aug. 5, saying that finished products for therapeutic purposes for animals, including veterinary drugs, medicated feed products, and antimicrobials, shall be regulated by the agency, which is under the Department of Health.
On the other hand, the BAI, which is under the Department of Agriculture, will be charge of the issuance of authorization for feed ingredients, feed additives, or feed raw materials meant for manufacturing or producing animal feeds, except for veterinary drugs or ingredients with therapeutic, antimicrobial or medicated properties.
“While the FDA is still developing the guidelines for veterinary drugs, [it] shall use the guidance document on the classification of veterinary drugs and feeds set forth by Health Canada,” the FDA said in an advisory. — DEXTER CABALZA
