MANILA, Philippines- Sanib-pwersa na nagtutulungan ang Pilipinas at New Zealand para i-institutionalize ang bilateral endeavors sa maritime security na magiging gabay ng kani-kanilang bansa pagdating sa “law enforcement at civilian agencies” para tugunan ang “common threats” sa karagatan.
“Our comprehensive maritime cooperation is envisioned to deal with a wide range of issues, from piracy to illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing (IUUF), terrorism in the maritime domain, contraband smuggling, and wildlife trafficking, amongst others,” ang sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos sa idinaos na joint press conference kasama si New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Si Luxon ay kasalukuyang nasa Pilipinas para sa official visit hanggang bukas, araw ng Sabado, Abril 20, 2024.
Sinabi pa ni Pangulong Marcos na tinanggap ng Pilipinas ang commitment ng New Zealand na magtaguyod ng mapayapang resolusyon sa labanan alinsunod sa international law, kabilang na ang United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Your support, Mr. Prime Minister, and that of the New Zealand government, strengthens the overarching principles on which our continued march to prosperity and regional security are anchored,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.
“We are delighted to acknowledge the intent of our friends in New Zealand to join our efforts towards a comprehensive maritime security for our region,” aniya pa rin.
Tinuran pa ng Pangulo na tiwala siya na sa darating na sa mga taon, magkasamang makapag-aambag ang dalawang bansa sa pagsasakatuparan ng layunin ng Paris Agreement, na isang international treaty para sa climate change.
“This commitment also extends to our focused collaboration on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR),” litaniya ng Pangulo.
S kanilang dako, pinasalamatan naman ni Pangulong Marcos ang New Zealand dahil patuloy na tinitiyak nito ang kapakanan ng 100,000 Pilipino na kasalukuyang isinusulong ang academic courses, kumikita para sa kanilang pamilya at hangad na makamit ang kanilang pangarap “while positively contributing to the economies and societies of both our two countries.”
“Both sides committed to the signing of a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement (MLSA) by the end of 2024, and to concluding a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA),” ang mababasa sa joint statement kasunod ng pagpupulong sa pagitan nina Pangulong Marcos at Luxon.
“The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining maritime security cooperation, including bilateral and multilateral activities at sea, port calls/visits, and capacity-building efforts,” ayon pa sa dalawang pinuno.
Kapwa naman nagpahayag ng kanilang interes ang dalawang lider para i-develop ang economic ties ng dalawang bansa at kilalanin ang nagpapatuloy na pagtutulungan sa sektor ng agrikultura.
Kapwa committed ang mga ito na alisin ang trade barriers at gamitin ang benepisyo ng free trade agreements.
“We are both determined to increase two way trade to by at least 50% in the next few years, and it is great to see bilateral trade between the New Zealand and the Philippines not only recover to pre-pandemic levels, but continue to increase,” anila.
Kinilala rin ng dalawang lider ang mga oportunidad para sa mga kompanya ng Pilipinas at New Zealand na magtulungan sa larangan ng “agricultural technology and innovation, agribusiness, renewable energy, education and skills, digital infrastructure, including maximizing the Philippines’ expertise in information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), among others.”
Binigyang-diin naman nina Pangulong Marcos at Luxon ang kahalagahan ng pagpapasigla sa visa facilitation sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at New Zealand.
Sinabi ng Malakanyang na noong 2023, ang New Zealand ay pumuwesto bilang 28th trading partner ng Pilipinas na may kabuuang kalakalan na nagkakahalaga ng USD495.37 million at ika-38 export destination at 24th import source.
Ang New Zealand ay nasa pang-34 bilang ‘source of approved investments’ sa manufacturing at wholesale at retail trade industry.
Inulit ni Luxon ang patuloy na pagsuporta ng kanyang bansa para sa peace process sa Mindanao habang suportado naman nito ang Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund.
“To develop knowledge and skills in the Philippines, New Zealand will continue to fund, through the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme, tertiary scholarships and short-term cohort courses,” ayon sa joint statement nina Luxon at Pangulong Marcos.
“New Zealand prioritizes scholarships in the areas of Climate Change and the Environment, Disaster Management, Food Security and Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Governance,” patuloy pa.
Kapwa nangako ang dalawang lider na titiyakin ang kapakanan ng mga Filipino migrant worker lalo na ng mga nars (nurse).
Ang New Zealand ang pangalawang tahanan ng 79,998 Filipino na isinusulong ang academic courses o nagtatrabaho para kumita para sa kanilang pamilya.
“Both leaders looked forward to the review of the existing bilateral migrant worker arrangement, which will facilitate the recruitment of Filipino workers to New Zealand and other initiatives,” ayon sa joint statement.
Samantala, umabot na sa 57 taon ang diplomatic ties ng Pilipinas at New Zealand mula nang itatag ito noong Hulyo 6, 1966. Kris Jose
