By Brian Campued
The Philippines and Cambodia are expected to sign three agreements during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Phnom Penh on Sept. 7-9, reinforcing the two Southeast Asian neighbors’ long-standing people-to-people ties, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
In a press briefing at Malacañang on Friday, DFA Spokesperson Angelica Escalona said the bilateral deals up for signing are agreements on combating transnational crimes, on higher education, and on air services.
“The visit is expected to result in agreements and initiatives that will expand cooperation and bring tangible benefits to both Filipinos and Cambodians,” Escalona said.
“It will further affirm the Philippines’ dedication in advancing its bilateral interests and connectivity with Cambodia,” she added.
The DFA underscored that the President’s state visit is aimed at diversifying trade and economic relations between the two countries, strengthening cooperation in addressing transnational crimes, and securing Cambodia’s support for the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.
Marcos and his delegation, Escalona said, are looking into boosting intra-ASEAN trade, including the export of Filipino food, beverages, and pharmaceutical products.
During a roundtable discussion with both Filipino and Cambodian business leaders, the President is also expected to promote expansion of local franchises and tourism exchanges between Manila and Phnom Penh.
As some Filipinos were reportedly being lured to work in Cambodia and other countries in mainland Southeast Asia with offers of higher salaries but ended up working in scam hubs, Philippine and Cambodian leaders are expected to discuss bilateral efforts to address various forms of transnational crimes, particularly human trafficking incidents.
“Dahil importante yan sa Pilipinas, we expect those issues to be discussed during the President’s bilateral meetings,” Escalona stressed.
The state visit reciprocates the official visit to the Philippines of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet in February 2025, and will be the first state visit of a Philippine president to Cambodia in almost nine years.
Marcos will be joined by First Lady Liza Marcos, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, and Presidential Communications Office acting Secretary Dave Gomez.
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