By Brian Jules Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah witnessed on Tuesday the signing of at least three memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and one letter of intent (LOI) aimed at boosting ties between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam on key sectors during the two-day state visit of the President to the Sultanate.
According to the Malacañang, the MOUs and LOI covered the sectors of tourism, maritime cooperation, seafaring, and agriculture.
The MOU on tourism cooperation, signed between the Department of Tourism and Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, 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.
President Marcos said the landmark agreement was also among the key priorities following the 3rd Philippines-Brunei Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation held in August last year.
“I am confident that our partnership with Brunei in these important sectors will further boost our political, economic, and people-to-people ties,” Marcos said during the signing of the MOU.
Tourism Sec. Christina Frasco, likewise, said the agreement would enhance the overall tourist experience, strengthen economic ties, and contribute to the sustainable development of the tourism industry in both countries.
“Forging this landmark collaboration signifies an exciting new chapter in our bilateral relations that will mutually benefit our two nations,” Frasco said in a statement.
“Focused on fostering tourism growth and development, and promoting culture, traditions, and natural beauty of our respective countries, this agreement will enrich the tourism sector and expand economic opportunities for our people,” she added.
Meanwhile, the MOU on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping certificates allows national agencies of both countries to recognize the national certificates issued by their respective focal agencies.
It also replaces and updates a prior MOU between the Philippines and Brunei signed in 2001.
The MOU on maritime cooperation is expected to enhance 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 between the two Southeast Asian neighbors in sustainable agriculture and food security.
In a bilateral meeting with Sultan Bolkiah, the President said he hopes to expand the relations between the Philippines and Brunei, agreeing that there is much potential the two countries 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, the Sultan said the economic ties and people-to-people exchange between the two countries continue to strengthen especially in 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,” he added.
Marcos also emphasized the importance of keeping and strengthening the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Brunei as it would help to sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.
The Chief Executive said his first state visit to Brunei is important amid “many global challenges for which Brunei and the Philippines have very many common interests”.
“And so, it is important that we continue to work together on bilateral basis, also together with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), with BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area) in all of these methods by which we can plan together for our own communities, for the peace and the stability of the region,” he said in his remarks during the state banquet hosted by Sultan Bolkiah.
“And not only for Asia, but for the Indo-Pacific as well. It is important that those partnerships now be brought back into the modern world. And I look forward for this state visit to once more give an added impetus and warmth and inspiration to the relationship between our two countries,” he added. – avds
