Energy, trade deals expected to be forged during Marcos' Canada trip
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Several cooperation agreements in various areas, such as energy, trade, investment, labor, and others, are expected to be signed between the Philippines and Canada during President Marcos' official visit, Malacañang said.
Marcos and his delegation will fly to Canada on Wednesday night, July 1.
According to Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, Marcos' official trip to Canada primarily aims to further strengthen the strong bilateral relationship between the Philippines and Canada, which "remains vibrant and robust."
"May ilang mga formal frameworks of cooperation at iba’t ibang kasunduan ang inaasahang ilalabas sa pagbisita ng Pangulo lalo na sa mga area ng energy, natural resources, trade and investment, labor and immigration, tourism, culture and the arts (Several formal frameworks for cooperation and various agreements are expected to be announced during the President's visit, particularly in the areas of energy, natural resources, trade and investment, labor and immigration, tourism, and culture and the arts)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Wednesday, July 1.
The President is also scheduled to participate in several business meetings and private sector engagements, including meetings with key Canadian economic stakeholders in the mining, information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), telecommunications, nuclear energy, and financial services sectors.
Malacañang earlier announced that Marcos will seek to advance negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and Canada during his trip.
The President will visit Vancouver, British Columbia, from July 1 to 4, marking the first visit by a Philippine head of state to Canada in 11 years.
On Tuesday afternoon, Malacañang confirmed that Marcos will push through with his official visit to Canada despite the ongoing rally staged by the members of Iglesia Ni Cristo along EDSA in Quezon City.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez confirmed that there were no changes to the President's schedule.
"There are no changes in the schedule of the President," Gomez said in an interview.