President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday, Oct. 14, agreed to increase the two countries’ engagement and cooperation in defense and water management.
The Dutch Prime Minister even invited Marcos to two conferences tackling artificial intelligence and water management in The Netherlands next year.
Noting how “crucial” cybersecurity is for the Philippines’ armed forces, the Chief Executive said it is particularly important in protecting military networks against cyberattacks.
“The cybersecurity part of our military is growing everyday,” the President emphasized.
This came after Rutte shared that The Netherlands will be hosting a conference on the role of artificial intelligence in the military domain in February 2023.
The event aims to gather foreign ministers, defense ministers and heads of states.
The Netherlands will also be hosting a conference on water management and climate change adaptation in March.
Climate change and water management happen to be among the key priorities of the Marcos administration.
“We are two counties who run a risk or two with rising sea levels and climate change,” Rutte said.
Marcos called these engagements “very useful” for the Philippines for it is one of the countries most affected by extreme climate events.
“We are actually trying to decide whether or not to form a new agency just for water management. That seems to be right exactly within the area of concern of the Philippines,” he added.
“I tell our locals, local executives, every urban and large municipality in the Philippines has a water problem whether they know it or not,” the President furthered.
Earlier, he backed the creation of a government body that will manage water resources, saying the problem in the country’s water supply needs the most urgent solution.
Marcos’ and Rutte’s meeting came on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union (ASEAN-EU) commemorative summit in Brussels, Belgium.