February 25, 2025
MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday welcomed Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. to Malacañang Palace for a two-day official visit, marking a milestone in the strengthening of ties between the two nations.
Whipps, dressed in a Barong Tagalog, received arrival honors before joining Marcos in witnessing the signing of agreements aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Palau Minister of State Gustav Aitaro signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on policy consultations, establishing a mechanism for both countries to exchange views on bilateral and regional cooperation, as well as international issues of mutual concern.
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Manalo and Aitaro also signed diplomatic notes allowing Palauan officials and stakeholders to conduct study visits to Philippine agricultural facilities.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Palau’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment head, Steven Victor, signed an MOU on fisheries cooperation.
The agreement fosters collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Palau’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment on conservation efforts, joint research, and measures to combat illegal and unreported fishing.
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In his speech after the signing, Marcos said he was looking forward to the conclusion of the Philippines and Palau’s labor cooperation agreement and Social Security Agreement that will guarantee Filipinos who work in Palau access to social benefits.
Marcos also said that he and his Palauan counterpart discussed formal cooperation in health, the promotion of human resource development, and other areas.
“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. We also recognized the importance of tourism and air connectivity in bringing us closer as neighbors,” Marcos said.
Marcos also expressed the country’s readiness to support Palau’s renewable energy and construction sectors through offering cost-effective and quality materials.
“As our two countries look forward to celebrating the 30th anniversary of our diplomatic relations in 2027, President Whipps and I have agreed to continue consultations and engagements between our two governments in the spirit of our long-standing friendship and Pacific kinship, [and] in pursuit of our common vision of peace, prosperity, and progress for the peoples of our region,” Marcos also said.
For his part, Whipps described the signed pacts as “a new chapter” between the Philippine and the Palauan governments.
“You know, in Palau, every man’s meeting house—we call them a bais—there are often symbols that are painted. And one of those symbols is the surgeon fish. And the surgeons, as we know, when surgeons fish are out feeding, they feed alone. But when danger lurks, they come together and they form a large school and they protect each other,” he said.
“And I think this demonstrates the principle that we are stronger together. And I think now more important than ever, we must collaborate in navigating the geopolitical issues and pressures that we face, especially the existential threats that we face with climate change,” he added.
Nearly 3,000 Filipinos live and work in Palau, making up about 17% of its population.
In 2027, the Philippines and Palau will mark the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.