President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday that bilateral relations between the Philippines and Singapore remain robust and continue to deliver tangible benefits for both nations.
In a joint press conference with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong after their bilateral meeting in Malacañang on Wednesday, President Marcos said both sides had detailed discussions on priority areas of cooperation.
The President shared that he and Prime Minister Wong engaged in comprehensive and constructive discussions, building on the outcomes of the recent ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur.
“We exchanged views on what we can further do together to make the ASEAN Community stronger and more resilient,” the President said.
President Marcos said he hoped the Philippines would continue to be an essential investment destination for Singapore, which remains one of the country’s most important investors.
The President expressed hope that Singapore would consider expanding its investments in the Philippines’ renewable energy sector, highlighting it as a key area for future collaboration.
On climate change mitigation, President Marcos said both countries reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate on a carbon credit mechanism in line with Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement by commencing negotiations on an implementing arrangement.
As the two countries continue to promote collaboration and facilitate training and exchanges between health experts, President Marcos expressed hope for the immediate conclusion of a bilateral agreement with Singapore on health cooperation.
The President thanked Singapore for its efforts in ensuring the survival and propagation of some of the Philippines’ endemic and endangered species, most notably the Philippine Eagle.
President Marcos also thanked the Singapore Prime Minister for ensuring the welfare of the around 200,000 Filipinos residing in Singapore.
“It is appropriate that our respective agencies assist in the reintegration of the hardworking overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) once they have completed their work contracts in Singapore and have returned to the Philippines,” the President said.
President Marcos also expressed the Philippines’ commitment to continuing to advocate for a rules-based international order grounded in international law, equity, and justice, to achieve peace and stability in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.
President Marcos extended his warm congratulations to the people of Singapore as they prepare to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their independence this August.
“Your remarkable progress over six decades to become one of the world’s most stable, most admired countries is indeed an achievement worth celebrating and, for the Philippines, worth emulating,” the President said. | PND
