15-10-2024 (MANILA) The Philippines and Malaysia have agreed to bolster their collaboration in the realms of education and disaster response. This development comes following a high-level meeting between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Ahmad Zahid Bin Hamidi, at Malacañang Palace.
The courtesy call, which took place on Tuesday, saw the two nations exploring avenues for mutual benefit, with a particular focus on leveraging the Philippines’ robust workforce and Malaysia’s expertise in technical education.
President Marcos, in his address, lauded the Filipino workforce, describing it as “very good” and highlighting its youthful, industrious, and well-trained nature. He emphasized the adaptability of Filipino workers, attributing it to the country’s significant diaspora. However, the President also acknowledged the need for continuous training, especially in light of post-pandemic technological advancements.
“Our people are accustomed to working in diverse international settings, thanks to our widespread diaspora. However, we must not rest on our laurels. The post-COVID world has ushered in a new era, bringing with it novel technologies that require our workforce to stay ahead of the curve,” President Marcos remarked.
On the Malaysian side, Deputy Prime Minister Hamidi expressed keen interest in learning from the Philippine education system. He specifically highlighted Malaysia’s growing emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), suggesting potential areas for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
The dialogue also ventured into the critical area of disaster response. Malaysia extended a generous offer of assistance through its specialised SMART Team, a disaster response unit that could be deployed to the Philippines during typhoons and other calamities, subject to presidential approval.
President Marcos warmly received this proposal, stating, “We are deeply appreciative of this generous offer of assistance. Indeed, we can begin organising this collaborative effort as soon as all parties are prepared.”
This meeting builds upon the foundation laid by recent high-level exchanges between the two nations. President Marcos visited Malaysia in July 2023, while Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made an official visit to the Philippines in March of the same year.
The strengthening of ties between the Philippines and Malaysia is not just symbolic but has tangible economic implications. Malaysia currently stands as the Philippines’ ninth largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching an impressive $8.15 billion in the previous year, according to data from the Presidential Communications Office.
