President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. left the Philippines Monday to begin his five-day visit to Germany and the Czech Republic.
In his departure speech at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, the President said his trip this week would focus on deepening the bilateral relations of the Philippines with the two Central European nations.
President Marcos would meet with German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz in Berlin and Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague.
In Germany, the President is expected to formalize a joint declaration of intent to strengthen cooperation in the maritime sector, a collaboration between the transportation agencies of both nations.
The upcoming declaration aims to streamline maritime trade operations and improve the mobility of commercial vessels from Manila and Berlin.
In Czech Republic, President Marcos would sign a joint communiqué to establish a labor consultations mechanism, enhancing collaboration between Manila and Prague to support Filipino worker migration.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also revealed that due to the increasing demand for Filipino workers in the Czech Republic, Prague has set an annual quota of 10,000 Filipinos starting in May.
The Presidential Communications Office said Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who was present during the President’s departure ceremony, would serve as the country’s caretaker while President Marcos is in Europe.
Philippine ambassador to Germany Irene Natividad said the President’s trip to Berlin showed the country’s reaffirmation of its bilateral ties with the European nation.
“I think the key to any bilateral relation is mutual or shared interests and values,” Natividad said in an interview.
The Philippines and Germany have common ground in terms of establishing a rules-based international order, addressing climate change issues and related challenges, and caring for the labor sector to ensure smooth diplomatic relations, according to Natividad.
Germany has also expressed its support for the country’s peace process, especially in Mindanao, the ambassador noted, citing development projects in the region funded by the German government.
“On the issue of the West Philippine Sea, Germany has always been one of the first countries to call out aggressive actions and dangerous maneuvers and incidents in our seas,” Natividad added.