Singapore and the Philippines to expand collaboration in renewable energy, sustainability and healthcare

[SINGAPORE] Singapore and the Philippines will deepen their collaboration in several areas, including renewable energy, sustainability, healthcare and civil service development.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced this at a joint press conference on Wednesday (Jun 4), the first day of an introductory visit to Manila by PM Wong.

At the press conference at Malacanang Palace following their meeting, PM Wong thanked President Marcos for his invitation to visit and said the bilateral relationship “has never been better”.

“It is a partnership that has been carefully nurtured over the decades by successive generations of leaders and officials,” he said. “It is built on a high degree of mutual trust and respect, and it has enabled mutually beneficial cooperation over a wide range of areas, for example in trade and investments.”

On renewable energy, the two countries agreed to deepen both bilateral and regional cooperation, and to accelerate efforts to achieve the Asean power grid.

This is a plan to connect the electricity networks of the group’s 10 member countries to enable cross-border power trading by 2045.

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Marcos said Singapore will continue to be a major partner in the Philippines’ aspiration to diversify its energy sources, and hailed the robust ties between the two countries.

PM Wong said Singapore companies are interested in renewable energy in the Philippines, including solar and wind projects. “Such projects can generate economic opportunities for the Philippines, while supporting the Philippines’ renewable energy targets,” he added.

On the sustainability front, the two countries are working to finalise a legally binding implementation agreement for cross-border carbon credit transfers that is aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

The Paris Agreement governs international cooperation to tackle climate change, and includes guidelines for countries to trade carbon credits to meet their climate targets.

An implementation agreement will facilitate commercial participation in carbon credits projects, which can spur technology transfer, green investment and create good jobs, said PM Wong.

The two leaders also said their respective health ministries are exploring ways to deepen health cooperation, such as in upskilling and the reintegration of returning Filipinos into the Philippine healthcare system.

Marcos expressed his appreciation that Singapore has ensured the welfare, safety and security of the over 200,000 Filipinos working in the city-state, while PM Wong said Singapore is committed to being a good second home for them.

“They live and work in Singapore, contributing to our economy and society and enriching our cultural diversity,” said PM Wong.

“I conveyed to the President Singapore’s appreciation for their invaluable contributions, especially the Filipino healthcare workers who stood with us during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Marcos noted that the two sides are working to conclude an agreement on health cooperation and a digital leadership programme between the Philippine Civil Service Commission and the National University of Singapore.

Besides this collaboration, PM Wong said Temasek Foundation has also been active in the healthcare space in Taguig City – which is to the east of Manila – and the two countries will continue to step up cooperation in this field.

Both countries also agreed to work “shoulder to shoulder” at the Asean level, so as to accelerate regional integration and unlock the grouping’s full potential, said PM Wong.

The Philippines can count on Singapore’s full support for its Asean chairmanship in 2026, he added.

“We will coordinate closely, because Singapore takes over from the Philippines the Asean chairmanship the following year,” he said.

During their meeting, the leaders reaffirmed the excellent bilateral ties between the two countries, exchanged views on regional and global developments, and underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation towards a more resilient Asean, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.

At an official dinner held in his honour, PM Wong noted that this was his first bilateral visit since Singapore’s recent general election, and also his first visit to the Philippines as Prime Minister.

He said the visit came as the two countries have become more connected than ever, having signed an upgraded Singapore-Philippines air service agreement in May 2024.

The agreement, which raised the number of codeshare services between each country’s airlines from 35 to up to 150 flights, will enable more exchanges between the two peoples, said PM Wong.

“The Singapore-Philippines partnership is built on firm and growing connections between our countries,” he said in a toast speech. “And I look forward to working with President Marcos Jr to take it to even greater heights.” THE STRAITS TIMES