Philippines, S Korea to sign four pacts during Duterte visit

The Philippines and South Korea will be signing at least four bilateral agreements during President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Seoul, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella has said.Duterte will visit South Korea from today until June 5.In a news briefing, Abella said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between the Philippines’ Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Korea on co-operation in the transportation sector.He added that an MoU on scientific and technological co-operation between the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology and South Korea’s Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology will also be signed.Another MoU on Trade and Economic Co-operation, according to Abella, will also be signed between the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry and South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.A loan agreement on the New Cebu International Container Port Project, he said, will also be signed by the Philippines’ Department of Finance and the Export-Import Bank of Korea.“The significance of this visit basically has to do with conveying to the Republic of Korea the importance of its partnership with the Philippines and to reaffirm the strength of Philippine-Republic of Korea relations,” Abella noted.In Seoul, Duterte is expected to participate in a summit with South Korean leader Moon Jae-in where South Korea’s help to the Philippines for the rehabilitation of Marawi City will be tackled.Abella said the South Korean government has donated $100,000 (P5.2mn) to the Philippine Red Cross in connection with the rebuilding of the city that was devastated by the terrorist Maute Group during a five-month siege in 2017.“There will also be a reference to social co-operation or the protection of nationals of both countries, with about 1.6mn Korean tourists to the Philippines and 450,000 Filipino tourists to Korea in 2017, aside from the expatriates in each country,” he added.Abella said agricultural and environmental co-operation and market access for Philippine exports, especially okra, avocado and tropical fruits, will also figure in the summit.Aside from the meeting with the South Korean leader, Duterte will take part in a business forum and the E-Mart Philippine Food Festival.He will also meet with the Filipino community in South Korea, composed of workers, students, professionals, missionaries and spouses of Koreans.About 68,000 Filipinos live and work in South Korea, according to Abella.Duterte’s visit, his first to South Korea, comes about 10 months before the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between Manila and Seoul on March 3, 1949.The last Philippine President to visit South Korea was Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino, in 2014.