The Senate, led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, had a successful three-day parliamentary visit to France, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said on Sunday, October 30.
Zubiri, together with other senators, met with their French counterparts and discussed ways to on how to strengthen the bilateral ties between the Philippines and the European country.
The official Philippine Senate delegation was invited to visit France, from October 24 to 26, as part of inter-parliamentary exchanges and on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Philippine-French diplomatic relations.
The Philippine delegation also included Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor Ejercito, and Senators Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Maria Lourdes “Nancy” Binay, Grace Poe and Go.
Zubiri has indicated strong interest in studying the defense and energy systems and infrastructures that France possesses, which was one of the goals of the Philippine Senate’s visit.
Zubiri has been known for a long time for advocating for clean energy, especially after being the driving force behind the passage of the Biofuels Act in 2006 and the Renewable Energy Law in 2008.
Meanwhile, Legarda, president and founding member of the Philippines-France Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Association, was also able to discuss with their French counterparts environmental and blue economy-related issues.
Legarda emphasized the importance and timeliness of discussing the issues because they are related to climate change, which remains a leading global concern.
“Our visit to France is a chance for the Philippines to convey our vision, plans, and involvement in addressing global challenges such as climate change,” Legarda said in a press statement.
“Our country fully recognizes France’s steady allegiance to be a global leader in addressing the issue, and we are fully committed to supporting the Paris Agreement,” she also said.
For his part, Go noted that the trip had opened up new opportunities for collaboration between the two nations, particularly in the areas of sustainable energy, climate change, economic growth, and food security.
“It is my hope that our trip was successful in bringing the Philippines and France closer together, and that we were able to successfully identify potential areas in which the Philippines and France could work together, particularly in light of the challenges that our world is currently facing,” Go said in a separate statement.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Senate leadership for organizing the successful parliamentary visit.
“It was a pleasure to meet our French counterparts and I appreciate Senate President Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Legarda for arranging the visit and giving us this opportunity to improve ourselves through exchange with them,” Go said.
Go, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health, also said that the visit served as an opportunity to personally thank the French government for its multi-million COVID-19 vaccine donation to the Philippines through the COVAX Facility at the height of the pandemic.
He said France’s assistance provided a significant boost to the country's national vaccination program.