Papua New Guinea PM thanks PH for teachers, rice exports

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill (center) listens during the bilateral meeting with President Benigno Aquino III at Malacañang Palace on Tuesday. PHOTO FROM THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE TWITTER

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on Tuesday thanked the Philippines for its rice exports and the contributions of Filipino teachers.

“PM O’Neill cited the presence of more than 30,000 Filipinos, a good number, as PG permanent residents and valuable contributions of Filipino teachers from institutions like La Salle and Don Bosco,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement to media.

“PM O’Neill also cited PH as one of three major rice exporters to PG and that technology transfer and technical assistance from PH are much appreciated,” he added.

Coloma said President Benigno Aquino III and O’Neill met at Malacañang on Tuesday morning to reaffirm their commitment “to strengthen people-to-people ties.”

O’Neill specifically sought Aquino’s assistance in addressing climate change.

The Philippines, which has become the poster boy of climate change after the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan), is this year’s chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum.

“He (O’Neill) said PH experience in climate change adaption and mitigation would be valuable to [Papua New Guinea],” Coloma said.

Aquino, meanwhile, responded to O’Neill by saying there was a large scope of mutual support among countries vulnerable to climate change, even if their greenhouse gas emissions were low. RC