Deals on HCWs, climate finance expected during Marcos-SG president meeting

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is set to have a bilateral meeting with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Thursday as part of the latter's state visit to the Philippines, the Presidential Communications Office said on Wednesday.

Marcos and First Lady Louise ''Liza'' Araneta-Marcos will welcome the Singaporean president and his spouse, Jane Yumiko Ittogi, during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace.

According to the PCO, Marcos intends to reaffirm his administration's commitment to strengthening collaboration with Singapore during the state visit.

Aside from the bilateral meeting, the two leaders are expected to witness the signing of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on the recruitment of Filipino healthcare workers and collaboration on climate finance.

The two nations will continue their cooperation in the fields of energy and healthcare.

Marcos and Shanmugaratnam first met during the Philippine president's working visit to Singapore in May. 

The PCO said this would be the first time for Shanmugaratnam to visit the Philippines in his official capacity as Singapore’s head of state.

The last Singaporean president to visit the country was Halimah Yacob in 2019.

The diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Singapore were established on May 16, 1969. —VBL, GMA Integrated News