Manila, Sept. 26 -- The Philippine government has joined a cross-regional call for the immediate start of negotiations on a treaty that would ban the production of fissile material used in nuclear weapons.

Fissile materials such as highly enriched uranium and plutonium are essential raw materials in manufacturing nuclear weapons.

The proposal for a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), which is seen to prevent the expansion of nuclear arsenal among countries, has been around for years, but actual negotiations have yet to begin.

"The finalization and entry into force of a multilateral, non-discriminatory, and effectively verifiable FMCT are both critical and urgent," said Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, in her remarks at...