PBBM seeks PH-Australia collab on RE, agri, infra, tourism, health

CLOSER COOPERATION. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (March 6, 2024) says he seeks to expand the Philippines’ collaboration with Australia on renewable energy, agriculture, digital economy, infrastructure, tourism, and health. Marcos made the call during the leaders’ plenary at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne. (PCO Photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed his intent to leverage the Philippines’ partnership with Australia in the areas of renewable energy, agriculture, digital economy, infrastructure, tourism, and health.

This, as Marcos welcomed Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, a plan which aims to broaden and deepen Canberra’s economic ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“The economic cooperation infrastructures and web of free trade agreements that ASEAN and Australia have established over the years provide a solid foundation for this Strategy to flourish and to create a shared future that is peaceful and is prosperous,” Marcos said during the leaders’ plenary session at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne.

“The Philippines especially looks forward to expanding our collaboration on agriculture on food security, digital economy, infrastructure, tourism, and healthcare,” he added.

Marcos said having a closer collaboration with Australia on key sectors would provide Filipinos and ASEAN citizens a “strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure future.”

He noted that the second protocol to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) which was recently signed by the Philippines would benefit micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

He said the AANZFTA would facilitate the MSMEs’ participation in international trade by improving their access to markets and participation in the global value chains, as well as promoting the use of e-commerce.

“I am confident that through this development, the AANZFTA will continue to respond to the evolving multidimensional challenges in the business environment and complement region-to-region efforts to strengthen supply chain resilience, the expansion of trade and investment, inclusiveness, and sustainable development,” Marcos said.

Marcos said agreements such as AANZFTA and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement would usher in a “more robust” economic cooperation and provide a legal framework for a more prosperous future.

Marcos also invited Australia to partner with the Philippines in the clean, green, and renewable energy industry and other emerging technologies.

“We welcome Australia’s aim to boost clean energy, financing, and investment in ASEAN, as well as its support for the clean energy transition to meet climate action objectives. In the Philippines, we have taken concrete actions by implementing policies and initiatives to reduce emissions by catalyzing investments in our rich sources of renewable energy,” he said.

He made the call, as he emphasized that the Philippines “remains at the forefront of the effects of climate change, constantly facing the harsh realities of devastating typhoons and rising sea levels, which continue to threaten our biodiversity and ecosystems, and, in turn, agriculture, food security, and livelihoods.”

“These realities compel us to take bold and decisive actions, both domestically and in international fora for climate justice,” Marcos said, adding that the Philippines’ hosting of the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund would showcase global commitment to inclusivity by ensuring that countries most affected by climate change are heard.

Marcos also urged Australia to continue its support for the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) beyond 2024, noting that the ACB is implementing the Mainstreaming Biodiversity into the One Health Capacity development project between the ASEAN, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Australian government.

In developing the ASEAN-Australia Plan of Action 2025-2029, Marcos said an effective and inclusive implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its goals and targets on biodiversity conservation, climate action, and ecosystem restoration and management should be taken into account.

During his stay in Melbourne, Marcos secured PHP86 billion worth of investment deals from the Australian business leaders on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.