The Philippines and Singapore yesterday signed memoranda of understanding on healthcare and the environment during a bilateral meeting led by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
The first MOU, concerning carbon credits under the Paris Agreement, was signed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. This agreement aims to incentivize efforts to reduce carbon footprints and boost financial resources for environmental initiatives.
The second MOU addressed the recruitment of Filipino healthcare workers.The MOU also reflects confidence in Singapore’s legal system to protect the rights and welfare of Filipino overseas workers.
President Shanmugaratnam in the country for a three-day state visit.
“Welcome to the Philippines, to you and your delegation and I’m happy that after just two months to have you visiting with us again and I thank you for finding time in your — what must be very busy schedule and tour, to find time to be with the Philippines, even for just a little while,” President Marcos said during his opening remarks.
“Our bilateral relations are deep and multi-faceted. And I am pleased that we have taken another step in strengthening our security cooperation [ties] with the signing of the MOU on Defense Cooperation by our Defense Ministers last July,” he added.
Shanmugratnam arrived in Malacanang yesterday afternoon accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, and was welcomed by President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
Before the Palace visit, President Shanmugaratnam offered a wreath at Dr. Jose Rizal’s monument in Luneta
Further agreements in the pipeline include a Health Cooperation MOU and various collaborations between Philippine local government units and Singaporean private sector partners. These initiatives are expected to enhance bilateral relations and facilitate the smooth reintegration of overseas workers into the Philippine economy.
The leaders also discussed regional issues of mutual concern, including the South China Sea and developments in Myanmar.
Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, security, and stability in Southeast Asia and supporting the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus for Myanmar.
For his part, Shanmugaratnam thanked Mr. Marcos for the warm welcome, applauding the chief executive’s invitation to strengthen bilateral relations.
“It’s the 55th year of our diplomatic relations. So, I’m particularly pleased to be able to make the State Visit. In fact, it’s my second State Visit to an ASEAN country. The first was to Brunei very early in the year,” the Singaporean president said.
“And I was looking forward to this because it’s a warm and long-standing relationship, and one which we feel can be built up further. Both in traditional areas as well as in new areas,” he added.
