Marcos meets Japan, Australia foreign ministers in Malacañang
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in separate courtesy calls in Malacañang on Tuesday, reaffirming the Philippines’ strong and expanding partnerships with Australia and Japan.
The two foreign ministers are in Manila to attend related meetings of the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Foreign Ministers Summit, including the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Asean Regional Forum and the Asean post-ministerial conferences.
In a statement released by the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Motegi told Marcos that Tokyo expressed interest in strengthening its bilateral relationship “in a sustained and multilayered manner.”
Motegi also relayed that Japan wanted to advance its security cooperation with the Philippines through its trilateral talks with the United States.
READ: Japan-Asean: ‘Navigating Our Future, Together’
Japan also seeks to promote concrete cooperation in the economic field, including initiatives to strengthen economic security such as the enhancement of supply chain resilience.
Meanwhile, Wong’s courtesy call on Marcos came after she announced the Australian government’s pledge of A$10 (P413 million) million in cutting-edge drone technology and operator training to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) during her visit to its headquarters in Port Area, Manila.
Wong said Australia would be doubling its funding to P678 million over four years to support the Civil Maritime Initiatives, Civil Maritime Advancement through Partnerships and Support (CMAPS) for the Philippines.
READ: PCG to get underwater drones, antidrone systems from Aussie gov’t
Australia on Tuesday also launched a new P1.6-billion development program that will support education reforms in the Philippines, the Australian Embassy said in Manila on Tuesday.
The initiative named Education Quality for Inclusive Prosperity (Equip) is a five-year program that will support education in the country by helping schools better align learning with modern industry demands.
It will be implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).
According to Education Secretary Sonny Angara, the partnership includes a potential extension of an additional A$20 million (P865 million) over three years, driving the total potential investment to A$60 million (P2.6 billion) over an eight-year timeline until 2033. /das
