THREE agreements were signed during the state visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., to Canberra, Australia.
During the joint press conference with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, President Marcos said the signing of agreements covers issues of the maritime domain, cyber and critical technology, and the effective implementation of competition laws and policies in both countries.
“The three agreements exchanged today (Feb. 29) shall enhance information sharing, capability building, and interoperability between our relevant government agencies in the maritime domain and maritime environment, cyber and critical technology, and competition law,” according to Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
‘‘We’ll collaborate even more closely to promote our shared vision for the region, including in civil maritime security. And we’ll work together to promote the open and secure use of cyberspace. We’ve also signed a new MOU between our competition commissions to enhance cooperation on competition law and policy, highly-relevant issues in both of our countries keeping the cost of living precious that our people are facing,” Anthony Albanese Australian Prime Minister, stated.
When it comes to the maritime domain, the Philippines is committed to strengthening cooperation to reinforce civil-military collaboration, promote international law and a rules-based international order, safeguard the marine environment and cultural heritage, enhance defense engagements, and establish dialogues between relevant agencies of the Philippines and Australia.
Manila expects the sharing of information and best practices from Canberra, particularly in terms of cyber and critical technology, conducting capacity building, promoting a secured digital economy, and gaining a deeper understanding of the application of international legal standards in cyberspace.
On the other hand, collaboration on the effective implementation of their competition laws and policies is one practical way for both countries to strengthen economic ties.
According to PBBM, this involves sharing best practices and conducting capacity building in areas related to merger regulations, competition laws, and investigative techniques.
“The Prime Minister and I both agreed to continue to look for ways to explore every option possible, to bring our countries closer than ever and collectively, with optimism and a hopeful outlook, to be a force of good, unity, stability, and prosperity in our region,” Pres. Marcos said.
The three agreements signed during President Marcos’s visit to Canberra add to over 120 agreements signed by the two countries over the decades.
These cover various areas such as defense cooperation, air services, education, research, scientific and cultural cooperation, and more.
President Marcos visited Canberra, Australia, for a state visit from February 28 to 29, upon the invitation of Governor-General David Hurley.
Filipino groups in Canberra protest during PBBM’s state visit to Australia
While President Marcos Jr., was in Australia, various Filipinos and Filipino-Australians protested against the Marcos administration.
They stressed that with the return of the Marcos family to power, the crimes committed by the family should not be forgotten, and insisted that Marcos should be held accountable for these injustices.
The group also called for a revival of investigations into properties acquired by the Marcos family in Australia during the regime of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., claiming that these are part of the ill-gotten wealth hidden and not yet recovered by the Filipino people.
They also spoke out about PBBM’s policies, including the military alliance of the Philippines with Australia and the United States and the push for charter change.
In their statement, as Filipino-Australians and Filipinos living, working, or studying in Canberra, the Australian capital, they do not accept PBBM in their city.
On the other hand, Australian Senator Janet Rice raised a banner stating “Stop the human rights abuses” while President Marcos delivered his speech in front of the Australian Parliament in Canberra.
