The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said the working visits of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to Germany and Czech Republic next week are in support of the administration’s development agenda, and for the well-being and progress of the country and the people.

“These trips are all in support of the President’s development agenda for the well-being of our country and the progress of the Filipinos,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Elena Algabre of the Office of European Affairs said.

President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos are set to leave for a working visit to Berlin upon the invitation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and to Prague upon the invitation of Czech Republic President Petr Pavel.

Algabre also emphasized that the President’s trips abroad are in support to the administration’s agenda on economy and security “that will redound to the benefit of our country” especially with his visit to Germany and Czech Republic, which are focused on strengthening the bilateral ties with the two countries.

“We will also wish to expand economic cooperation with Germany to explore other avenues of cooperation and the same with the Czech Republic. For both, we will enhance our labor cooperation,” Algabre told the reporters.

“You know very well that we have an agreement with Germany on health workers that has been in place – the Triple Win Program. And now, we are in discussion with them on the entry also of our Filipino countrymen in other professions and skilled work. And we’ve mentioned earlier the one with the Czech Republic,” she added.

Algabre said the Philippines wants to increase people-to-people exchanges with both Germany and Czech Republic, noting that there are around 36,000 Filipinos in Germany and around 7,000 Filipinos in Czech Republic, which are expected to grow with the President’s visit in those country. PND