Duterte lauds fruitful Korea visit
Moon hailed for his commitment to strengthen regional security, stability
President Duterte described his three-day visit to South Korea as meaningful and productive, following the strengthening of the two Asian countries' cooperation in several areas.
Duterte, in his arrival statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Wednesday, said that the Philippines and South Korea are now starting to write a new chapter in their almost 70-year ties.
“My official visit to Seoul was meaningful and productive. We are now writing a new chapter of cooperation in the shared history between the Philippines and South Korea,” he said in his predawn speech.
Peace and stability
Duterte said his meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in were warm, open, and enriching – as things should be between “special friends and long-standing partners.”
Duterte said that he and Moon committed to significantly strengthen the two countries' partnership, especially in the areas of defense and security, trade and investments, infrastructure development, and protection of our nationals.
He lauded Moon for his commitment to strengthen the foundations of security and stability in the region.
The Philippine President also said that he expressed to Moon his full support for all efforts for the eventual denuclearization in the Korean peninsula.
Duterte and Moon also reaffirmed the need to work closer together to address traditional and emerging threats such as terrorism, transnational crimes and piracy at sea.
“To do this, we will count on South Korea as a steady partner in modernizing our key assets in defense, security and law enforcement,” Duterte said.
“We both also agreed to ramp up cooperation in the regional and international fora, especially in ASEAN, to advance security, stability and the rule of law,” he added.
Wider collaboration
The Philippine President also lauded the new government-to-government agreements signed during his visit that open up areas for wider collaboration in science and technology, infrastructure development, renewable energy deployment, trade and economic relations, transportation, agriculture, forestry, and communications.
Duterte also reported about the 23 agreements signed between South Korean and the Philippine businesses during the last day of his visit to Seoul.
“These agreements hopefully are projected to generate an estimated of US$4.8 billion in investments and [nearly] translated to about well let’s say modest of maybe 20 to 25,000 thousand jobs,” he said.
SoKor’s role
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, meanwhile, underscored the major role that South Korea is playing in the “economic emergence” of the Philippines, which is now moving to an even higher growth path.
Speaking before leaders of South Korea’s business sector in Seoul, Dominguez said prudent fiscal management, a manageable debt service load and more robust revenues are expected to improve the Philippines’ sovereign credit ratings and further enhance its financial capability.
As the Duterte administration fasttracks its ambitious $170-billion “Build, Build, Build” program, Dominguez said the government has funding over the medium term for its economic strategy anchored on an aggressive infrastructure program.
Dominguez said South Korea’s role in the Philippines’ rapid growth is best demonstrated by its funding support for two key infrastructure projects – the Panguil Bay Bridge in Northern Mindanao and a new International Container Port in Cebu.
Both projects are scheduled to begin this year and due for completion by 2020.
Top source of tourist
South Korea is also the Philippines’ sixth largest source of Official Development Assistance (ODA), with loans and grants amounting to $570.6 million as of December 2017; a top source of tourists for the past three years; and the country’s fifth major trading partner, Dominguez said.
In 2017, 1.6 million Koreans visited the Philippines, representing a quarter of total foreign tourist arrivals and an increase of 9 percent over the previous year. Total bilateral trade with South Korea in 2017 amounted to $10.61 billion.
“We have long admired South Korea’s sterling achievement in economic development. We know that there are many complementarities between our two economies. We are confident our trade and investment relationship can grow more robust in the coming period,” Dominguez said.
He also said the Duterte administration’s economic strategy of investing heavily in infrastructure and implementing tax reform to support the aggressive spending program while making the tax system simpler, fairer and more efficient for both individuals and businesses.
“I am sure you in Korea are very familiar with this type of economic growth because this was what you did in the 70's and 80’s – you invested a lot of money in your own infrastructure, and that's why you are where you are today,” Dominguez said.
As for tax reform, “all of these were done by South Korea, again, in the 70s, 80s and 90s,” Dominguez said.
To expand trade and investment relations with South Korea and other countries, Dominguez said the Philippines is committed to improving the ease of doing business, respect the sanctity of contracts, and promote a more conducive climate for investments.
70th anniversary
Duterte said that the Philippines and South Korea will work to make the landmark 70th anniversary of their relations next year memorable.
“Indeed, the Republic of Korea is a true friend of the Philippines. And President Moon an even closer ally,” he said.
“Our friendship is reaching a new maturity at even closer as deep and abiding friends. It is reaching on the level of mutual respect for each other, and our relations will only grow stronger in the years to come,” he added.
Cooperation on communication
The Philippine government is also stepping up cooperation with South Korea to enhance its capability on information dissemination through the field of broadcasting.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) on broadcasting cooperation between the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of the Republic of Korea was signed Tuesday on the sidelines of President Duterte's visit to Seoul.
Under the agreement, the two countries would cooperate for the purpose of mutual staff visits, training, and exchange in the field of broadcasting. The Korean ministry regulates KTV, the local news TV, and Arirang TV its international affiliate.
"PCOO and MCST aim to enhance capabilities in the field of broadcasting and to undertake joint or individual activities and programs that would help strengthen cooperation," a PCOO press statement read.
The agreement was signed by Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Do Jong-hwan at the Lotte Hotel.
Korean-made helicopters
The Philippine government is also looking into the possible purchase of 10 to 12 Surion utility helicopters from South Korea to augment its military air fleet.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the government could buy utility helicopters from South Korea using the funds from the botched acquisition of Bell helicopters from Canada.
“We're evaluating. The Air Force has a technical working group (to study the helicopter acquisition),” Esperon said in Filipino during a media interview here.
“I'm not looking at the price. We're considering what we really need. If we bought 16 Bell 412 helicopters, it could be equivalent to 10 to 12 Surion. The Surion helicopter is bigger. It can accommodate 16 passengers while Bell can carry seven,” he added. Early this year, the President ordered the military to cancel the $233-million procurement contract for 16 Bell helicopters from Canada after its government sought a review of the deal on human rights issues. (With a report from Chino S. Leyco)