Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.
(UPDATE) THE Philippines on Wednesday forged defense, security and employment agreements with Singapore to further boost its intelligence gathering, data privacy capacity building and counterterrorism efforts within and outside its borders, Press Secretary Rose Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles said.
The agreements were signed in the presence of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Shien Loong.
“We have political and security cooperation. We have [a] bilateral mechanism [for] the informal consultation on the Philippines and Singapore action plan. There are the active military cooperation dialogues and intelligence exchanges, assignment of Armed Forces representative to the regional counterterrorism information facility,” Cruz-Angeles said in a briefing.
“For law enforcement, we also have cooperation and training assistance,” she added.
One deal signed will enable the government to deploy a team to the regional counterterrorism information facility in Singapore.
A memorandum of understanding for personal data protection was also signed, as well as an agreement in the field of digital cooperation between the Department of Information Communications and Technology (DICT) and the Ministry of Communications and Information of Singapore.
A deal to develop the New Clark City through technology transfer and partnerships in urban and smart city solutions was also signed and seen to further boost trade and investment flows.
Both parties are also working to expand their existing bilateral Air Transport Agreement, a move seen to increase connectivity and opportunities for growth.
Cruz-Angeles said that Marcos and Singaporean President Halimah Yacob also touched on the territorial issue surrounding the South China Sea.
The President had earlier underscored the importance of maintaining “important areas of cooperation” with every member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), especially with regard to the contested waterway amid the “changing global geopolitical environment.”
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines and Singapore agreed to “continue enhancing bilateral cooperation” and emerge from Covid-19 “stronger together.”
“Both sides discussed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and recognized the importance of closer cooperation to enable both countries to emerge stronger together from the pandemic in an inclusive and sustainable manner,” the two countries said in a joint statement following Marcos' state visit to Singapore.
“The two sides intend to build on this solid foundation to further deepen and broaden our cooperation to bring greater benefits to our peoples,” the joint statement read.
“The Leaders welcomed the ongoing opportunities for the Philippines and Singapore to work together in growth areas, including the digital economy, agri-trade, infrastructure development, innovation, urban solutions, sustainability and consumer business,” it added.
The two nations will explore ways to improve supply chain connectivity and resilience so as to boost mutual economic resiliency.
“Both Leaders also welcomed the issuance of a Joint Communique on the Recruitment of Filipino Healthcare Workers between the Department of Migrant Workers of the Philippines and the Ministry of Health of Singapore, which will pave the way for the continued deployment of Filipino health care professionals to Singapore as well as greater bilateral cooperation in the field of health care,” the statement read.
Economic cooperation between the two countries expanded despite the disruption brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Singapore was the Philippines' largest foreign investor in 2021, with investments totaling $1.5 billion.
Marcos returned to Manila Wednesday night.
The President first visited Indonesia on September 4, where he and President Joko Widodo witnessed the signing of four key agreements totaling $8.484 billion.
The business deals include $822 million worth of investment pledges in textiles, garments, renewable energy, satellite gateway, wire global technology and agrifood; $7 billion in infrastructure for unsolicited private-public partnerships such as a C-5 four-level elevated expressway; and $662 million trade value for the supply of coal and fertilizer.
The investment pledges between the Philippines and Indonesia could generate at least 7,000 new employment opportunities, Malacañang said.
Agreements on the economy, culture and defense, as well as a plan of action for bilateral relations in the next five years, were also signed by the two countries.