MANILA: The Philippines and Brunei Darussalam further strengthened their four-decade-old bilateral relations, signing on Tuesday at least three memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and one letter of intent (LOI) covering tourism, maritime cooperation, seafaring, and agriculture.
The signing of the agreements was witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei.
Marcos is in Brunei until Wednesday for a two-day state visit.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the MOU on tourism cooperation aims to generate cooperative tourism projects and increase tourist arrivals between the two countries.
It also aims to support niche tourism development, particularly in the area of Islamic tourism and the promotion of Muslim-friendly destinations.
Meanwhile, the MOU on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) certificates allows national agencies of both countries to recognize the national certificates iss
ued by their respective focal agencies.
It also replaces and updates an MOU between the Philippines and Brunei signed in 2001.
An MOU on maritime cooperation was also signed between the two Southeast Asian neighbors to further cooperation on wide-ranging areas, including pollution, skills training, research, and information sharing.
The LOI, on the other hand, aims to explore further cooperation and collaboration in the field of agriculture for food security and sustainable agriculture between the two countries.
After Brunei, the President is set to undertake a working visit to Singapore, where he is expected to grace the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, becoming the first-ever Filipino president to address the key defense forum on May 30-31.
‘Much potential’ in PH-Brunei ties
In a bilateral meeting with Sultan Bolkiah, Marcos said he hopes to expand the relations between the Philippines and Brunei, noting ‘much potential’ that the two sides may explore.
‘I
think the MOUs that are being signed today that we shall witness, Your Majesty, will be a very good start to once again re-energize, and I think the areas that we have talked about, that we have paid attention to, for these MOUs are certainly rich with potential,’ Marcos said.
For his part, Sultan Bolkiah said the economic ties and people-to-people exchange between the two Southeast Asian countries continue to strengthen especially in ensuring mutually beneficial areas.
‘Your state visit today is customary to our two countries to continue the friendship and ties. That’s clear as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations. I believe that we are commemorating this significant occasion through visits,’ the Sultan said. ‘I’m looking forward to further enhancing our friendship in areas of future interest, which I believe will greatly benefit our countries and people.’
Speaker Martin Romualdez commended President Marcos for this “significant diplomatic achievement”, noting that key agreements sign
ify a “promising future” for the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Brunei.
‘The Filipino people will undoubtedly benefit from these initiatives through enhanced tourism, improved maritime standards, and strengthened agricultural practices that would spur job creation and generate income opportunities,” Romualdez said in a statement.
He said the House of Representatives fully supports these initiatives and vowed to help the Marcos administration secure the success of this enduring partnership between the two countries.
‘The House of Representatives fully supports these initiatives. We remain committed to helping the administration of President Marcos Jr. and to ensure as well that these agreements would re-energize the partnership and unlock potential opportunities for both nations,’ Romualdez said.
He said the MOU on tourism cooperation will benefit the tourism industry by promoting cultural exchange and understanding, while the MOU on STCW is crucial for the safety and efficiency of the cou
ntry’s maritime workforce.
Romualdez added the MOU on maritime cooperation is vital for maritime nations like the Philippines and Brunei, as it will enhance the capabilities of the two nations and ensuring sustainable maritime practices.
Source: Philippines News Agency
