MANILA, Philippines – KAPUWA nangako ang Pilipinas at Palau na ipagpapatuloy ng mga ito ang kanilang talakayan kaugnay sa maritime boundary delimitation at maging sa pagpapahusay sa sektor ng pangingisda.
Sinabi ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na tinalakay ng dalawang bansa ang balangkas ng kanilang fisheries cooperation para paghusayin ang kani-kanilang aquaculture sectors.
”On maritime cooperation, we committed to continue our dialogue on maritime boundary delimitation. We have also discussed the framework of our fisheries cooperation to improve our fishing and aquaculture sectors through the sharing of best practices and technologies, capacity-building initiatives as well, development of fisheries infrastructure, [and] cooperation for international market compliance,” ang sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos sa isinagawang joint press conference kasama si Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr.
”This agreement also signals our common desire to ensure sustainability in our life-giving waters. We thereby commit as well to work for joint fisheries conservation and to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices,” dagdag na pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.
Para naman kay Whipps, sinabi nito na ang Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ng Pilipinas at Ministry of Aquaculture, Fisheries, and Environment ng Palau ay nakatuon sa pagpo-promote ng fishing ventures sa aquaculture, na makapagpapalakas sa ‘trade at investment’ sa fisheries at i- develop ang fishing infrastructure capacity.
”And I think working jointly in our efforts against illegal fishing and also aid exchange and the transfer of technology,” ang sinabi ni Whipps.
Tinuran pa ni Pangulong Marcos na ang mga Filipino at Palauans ay nagbahagi ng parehong pagsisikap at kasipagan at hardworking spirit, at ito ay maaaring masaksihan sa pamamagitan ng dedikasyon ng 4,000 Filipino na nagtatrabaho sa Palau.
”With them in mind, I look forward to the conclusion of our labor cooperation agreement that aims to protect and to promote the welfare of Filipino workers in Palau, as well as the early conclusion of a Social Security Agreement that will guarantee Filipinos who work in Palau access to social benefits,” ayon pa rin sa Pangulo.
Sa kabilang dako, sinabi pa ng Pangulo na tinalakay din nila ang pormal na pagtutulungan sa kalusugan at promosyon ng human resources development.
”We have made concrete plans for collaboration on Technical Vocational [Education] and Training (TVET) and other forms of technical cooperation, including, as we have seen today, study visits from Palau on agriculture and health, two important pillars of our bilateral relationship,” ang winika ni Pangulong Marcos.
”We also recognized the importance of tourism and air connectivity in bringing us closer as neighbors,” aniya pa rin.
Samantala, sinabi ng Pangulo na ang lumalagong trade relations ay ”an undeniable indicator of meaningful opportunities in Philippines-Palau economic relations.” Kris Jose
