Philippines to deepen ties with Brazil on energy, agriculture

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is eyeing to deepen ties with Brazil in a number of key areas, including energy, agriculture and food security, as it strives to mitigate the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.

Advancing partnership in renewable energy and biofuels, livestock production and animal health, modern farming, education, science and technology, law enforcement and other fields directly benefiting Filipinos was tackled during President
Marcos’ meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva yesterday at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Lula is in the Philippines for a historic two-day state visit aimed at enhancing bilateral ties and strengthening cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy, science and technology defense and other sectors.

His visit, the first to the Philippines by a sitting Brazilian president, preceded the Philippines’ hosting of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits. It also coincided with the 80th anniversary of the forging of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1946.

“Expanded trade and investment opportunities, access to Brazil’s agricultural expertise and technologies, more sustainable energy sources and stronger security cooperation are among the key gains the Philippines is pursuing as it deepens its partnership with Brazil,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement.

“The Philippines also sought greater access to Brazilian agricultural technologies and expertise to help address climate change and strengthen food security, particularly in preparation for the impacts of a super El Niño,” it added.

The two leaders talked about possible cooperation in the defense industry, including research and development and co-production, to boost the Philippines’ self-reliant defense posture.

Lula invited Marcos to visit Brazil with a large business delegation to help their countries identify more areas for trade, investment and economic growth, the PCO said.

Their meeting was followed by the presentation of signed agreements that affirmed their commitment to widen economic ties, share expertise and technology and create stronger partnerships that generate more opportunities for Filipino businesses, protect local industries, strengthen food security and support safer communities.

Marcos hosted a state luncheon in honor of Lula and highlighted the shared values and ingenuity of Filipinos and Brazilians.

He cited the similarity between Brazilians’ gambiarra and the Filipinos’ spirit of diskarte, terms for resourcefulness and creativity that allow them to transform challenges into opportunities. Marcos said the shared spirit would further strengthen the friendship between the two countries and build a more prosperous future.

AI framework

Meanwhile, the government has adopted an artificial intelligence governance framework to ensure the responsible development and use of the technology, whose rapid deployment has sparked concerns among various sectors.

Under Executive Order 131 issued on Nov. 12, the framework will serve as the national strategic guide for policy formulation, regulatory coordination, institutional development, capacity-building and other governance measures needed to support and enhance the country’s AI ecosystem.

The order was released as the Philippines is hosting the ASEAN Summit, which is expected to discuss the region’s AI readiness.

The framework has four elements, including ethics and principles, which states that AI development, deployment and use shall be guided by principles of transparency and explainability, security and safety, accountability and integrity, human centricity and equity and sustainable development; standards and assurance, which require appropriate technical standards, testing and evaluation, conformity assessment, interoperability and other assurance mechanisms that support the responsible, safe and trustworthy AI development and use.

The other elements are risk-based policy toolkit, which states that governance measures shall be proportionate to the nature, context and level of risk and may include general and sector-specific guidelines, impact assessments, regulatory sandboxes, review of existing laws and regulations and coordinated complaint and grievance mechanisms; and enabling resources, which involves the strengthening of institutions, data research and development, capabilities, infrastructure and demand generation.

The EO formed the National Artificial Intelligence Council to serve as the inter-agency body responsible for coordinating, facilitating and monitoring the implementation of the framework and related initiatives.

The executive secretary will serve as the council’s chair while the secretary of the economic planning department will be its vice chair.