Singaporean official cites Phl's good governance

MANILA, Philippines - Singaporean Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam acknowledged the Philippine government’s strategy on good governance during a visit to the country recently.

Shanmugam, who met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday at the DFA main building in Pasay City, said good governance and stability are the main attractions to investments.

He cited the importance of regional connectivity, emphasizing that it is imperative for the growth of both investments and tourism in the region.

When asked about the welfare of Filipinos working in Singapore, Shanmugam said they are making positive contributions to the Singapore society, and are mainly concentrated in the creative arts, information technology and media sectors.

During the two-day visit, Shanmugam also met with other key officials of the Philippine government and Filipino businessmen and paid tribute to national hero Dr. Jose Rizal in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal National Shrine.

It was the foreign minister’s first official visit to the Philippines since being appointed as Singapore’s minister for foreign affairs and minister for law in May 2011.

Shanmugam was accompanied by Singaporean Ambassador A. Selverajah, Second Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong and other officials.

The two foreign ministers discussed ways of further enhancing and strengthening the Philippines and Singapore’s relations and regional matters of mutual concern.

Del Rosario cited the gains of the recent state visit of President Aquino to Singapore, particularly the first and successful Singapore Business Mission to the Philippines.

He also highlighted the increasingly diversified Singapore investments in the country and the burgeoning bilateral trade.

Del Rosario also expressed appreciation for the Singapore Scholarship, which, on its 13th year, has benefited 93 deserving Filipino students, as well as the increasing people-to-people contacts through cultural exchanges and the technical cooperation programs offered by the Singapore government.

He also expressed interest in developing a mechanism for defense cooperation with Singapore.

Del Rosario also sought Singapore’s participation in the centerpiece Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program of the Aquino government, and called attention to the administration’s poverty alleviation programs anchored on good governance.