New Bukidnon rehab center proves PHL-China relations ‘at its renaissance’ —Palace

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. on Friday said the new Northern Mindanao Wellness and Reintegration Center (NMWRC) was one of the few projects that supposedly proved the resurgence of Philippine-China relations.

"I think, Philippine-Chinese relationships is at its renaissance," Roque said at a press briefing for the inauguration of the center at Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

"It is at its best and this wellness center is in fact evidence that this cooperation can in fact bear fruits," he continued. "We are witness today to a fruition of this new friendship between China and the Philippines. We hope that there will be other friendships—or other projects attesting to these friendships."

Groundbreaking for the NMWRC, built by Hong Kong-based Friends of the Philippines Foundation, took place in 2017.

The facility will receive P13 million per year to support the rehabilitation of patients, the upkeep of facilities, and the skills training of recovering drug dependents.

"On behalf of the Philippine government, I would like to express our gratitude to the Chinese government, driven by the support of the Chinese government, given to the Philippine government’s anti-drug campaign," Roque said.

In the same briefing, Roque said there was "nothing objectionable" in China's decision to exclude the United States in the military exercises and energy exploration it proposed to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"I’m sure defense authorities will study the matter seriously. We find nothing objectionable to the fact that China would want to exclude non-Asians from the military exercise," he said.

The proposal by China was seen as part of efforts to expand its influence in the South China Sea, which it claims almost entirely, and push back at Washington which has backed countries with overlapping claims to the waters. — Rie Takumi/MDM, GMA News