Phl inks 4 pacts with Brunei

Manila, Philippines - The Philippines signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Brunei aimed at further enhancing cooperation between the two countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario signed the MOUs with Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masnah, acting minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei, during the state visit of President Aquino to the country on June 1 and 2.

The first MOU was an agreement on shipping and ports that aims to facilitate cooperation among government offices, the private sector, and state-owned companies, with a view to stimulating mutual investment and other forms of economic activity.

The MOU promotes activities such as exchange of information and personnel, coordination on implementing international maritime standards, undertaking projects to foster/supplement sea linkages and liner shipping, on-the-job training for personnel, and other cooperative activities in shipping, ports, freight forwarding and human resource development.

Another MOU is on sports cooperation, which aims to provide a framework under which the two countries shall consider detailed proposals for programs on cooperation in sports development and excellence.

It promotes the exchange of personnel in education, recreation and achievement sports, sports and science, infrastructure, and industry, the participation in conferences and similar events and in national and international championships, the exchange of sports-related information (e.g., training theories), and the holding of joint sporting events between the two countries.

The third MOU was an agreement on tourism cooperation which aims to promote and develop tourism in both countries by increasing tourist arrivals to or from both countries, encouraging a wider distribution of visitors to each one’s tourist destinations and attractions, encouraging visits from each other’s nationals/residents, and encouraging the healthy growth of the tourism industry in both countries.

Its activities shall include exchanging experiences, studies, experts, personnel, tourism programs, and other tourism-related information, training personnel, developing promotional materials, promoting each other’s destinations (twinning program), organizing and participating in conventions and exhibitions, and encouraging tourism investments.

Del Rosario and his counterpart also signed the MOU on food security and agricultural cooperation that aims to establish a general framework for bilateral cooperation in food security and agriculture, with a view to supporting food basket initiatives under the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The MOU’s activities shall focus on food security, agriculture, fisheries, food processing, and the halal industry.