Labor, maritime cooperation tabled in President Marcos’ Europe visit

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will sign several agreements, including on maritime and labor cooperation, during President Marcos’ five-day visit to Germany and the Czech Republic next week, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.

Marcos, who will be joined by First Lady Liza Marcos, will visit Berlin and Prague from March 11 to 15.

At a pre-departure briefing at Malacañang, Assistant Secretary Maria Elena Algabre of the DFA-Office of European Affairs said agreements on maritime sector cooperation and technical and vocational education and training would be signed between Manila and Berlin.

“In Germany, in terms of government-to-government agreements, there will be a joint declaration of intent on strengthening cooperation in the maritime sector, which will be signed by both countries’ transportation agencies,” Algabre told reporters.

“These JDIs seek to facilitate maritime trade and mobility of Philippine and German-owned commercial vessels,” she said.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will also forge a deal on a cooperation program with the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), which seeks to continue TESDA-BIBB’s partnership on technical and vocational education and training or TVET, the official said.?

Algabre said the Philippines and Germany are also working to enhance labor cooperation. She noted that the country has a previous agreement with Berlin on the Triple Win Program, aimed at addressing shortage of nurses in Germany.

Meanwhile, the DFA official said Marcos would witness the signing of a joint communiqué on the establishment of labor consultation mechanisms which intends to enhance cooperation between the Philippines and the Czech Republic for the safe and orderly migration of Filipino workers, as well as for the provision of higher protection of their rights and welfare.

The Czech Republic has expressed interest in hiring more Filipinos to participate in the labor market, the official said.

She said starting May, the Czech Republic is increasing its yearly quota for Filipino workers from the current 5,000 to 10,000.

“There are also other agreements in the pipeline that we are closely working on with the Czech side,” she added.

Asked if Marcos would tackle defense cooperation with the two European nations amid Chinese continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea, Algabre said the President would discuss with his counterparts on how the countries could work together in maintaining an international rules-based order. — Bella Cariaso