Aquino signs major agreement with Brunei
By Cris G. Odronia,
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino 3rd and the Sultan of Brunei, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, witnessed on Wednesday the signing of memoranda of understanding (MOU) on sports development, agriculture, tourism and shipping and ports management.
The President left also on Wednesday for Brunei Darussalam to boost bilateral relations between the Philippines and Brunei, and to invite more investors to the country. He was accompanied by a 55-man delegation upon the invitation of Sultan Bolkiah.
During his departure speech at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, the President said that his meeting with the Sultan of Brunei will also tackle cooperation on fighting transnational crimes, and combating drug and human trafficking.
Under the agreement for sports, there will be an exchange of officials in charge of sports policy-making with a view to disseminating and sharing their views and experiences on national and international sports affairs.
The MOU on agriculture, which was signed by Foreign affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Princess Masna of Brunei, aims to ensure food security and more enhanced cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement seeks to strengthen cooperation on food security in support of food basket initiatives of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-The Philippines East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga), agriculture, fisheries, food processing and Halal industry.
The MOU on tourism cooperation, on the other hand, aims at enhancing ties on tourism development. The areas of cooperation specified under the agreement will be on research and development, education and training, promotional programs, medical tourism, meetings and conventions, tourism investment, and aviation industry.
The agreement seeks to increase tourist arrivals for both countries.
President Aquino and Sultan of Brunei also witnessed the signing of MOU on shipping and ports management, which aims to facilitate cooperation between the Philippines and Brunei, both from their public and private sectors, and their state-owned companies, based on mutual understanding and benefit.
Other issues
President Aquino will also tackle global warming, rising oil prices and the Spratlys—a group of islands in the South China Sea being claimed wholly or in part by the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, China and Taiwan.
“Puspusan ang pagsisikap nating patatagin ang pakikipag-alyado sa ating mga karatig bayan upang mas maayos nating matugunan ang ating mga suliraning panlipunan. Dahil sa bayanihan ng mga bansa, umuusbong ang mga makabuluhang solusyon na nirerespeto at kinikilala sa mundo [We will strive to strengthen our alliances with our nearby neighbors so we can do more for our own country. Through cooperation between nations, we can come up with worthy solutions that will be respected and recognized by the international community],” he said.
The President will have a series of meetings with business organizations in Brunei, including the Brunei Economic Development Board, QAF Brunei SDN BHD Co. Ltd, Brunei Investment Agency and Mashhor Group of Companies.
Besides Sultan Bolkiah, Mr. Aquino is also expected to meet Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister H.R.H. Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and other officials of Brunei.
President Aquino said that he will also invite businessmen in Brunei to invest in the country.
The President added that he will also thank Brunei for joining the International Monitoring Team in Mindanao, which monitors the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Brunei is also a member of the Organization of Islamic Conference Peace Committee on Southern Philippines, which plays an important role in the peace process between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
The President said that he will also check the situation of the Filipinos living and working in Brunei. He is also set to meet with the members of the Filipino community there.
P2-million budget
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said that the two-day state visit of the President and his delegation to Brunei costs only around P2 million. He added that the funds set aside for the trip covers expenses for food, supplies, and other requirements for telecommunications.
According to the Finance Office of the Office of the President, the total amount it prepared for the President’s state visit to Brunei was the lowest budget it has earmarked for a presidential trip since the Ramos administration.
Among the Cabinet members accompanying the President to Brunei are Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
“The President’s two-day state visit to Brunei seeks to reinforce our strong ties with one of our partners in the Asean. There are various areas of cooperation wherein the two countries can work together, and the President’s visit will formalize several agreements that our government has been working on,” Ochoa said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
With report from Mayvelin U. Caraballo
Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/news/topstories/aquino-signs-major-agreements-with-brunei/
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This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon.
For assistance with organizing and planning weddings and garden receptions, log on to http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com
For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
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