The Philippines and Malaysia have expressed interest in strengthening their collaboration on education and disaster response efforts, Malacañang said Tuesday.

The plan for stronger collaboration was raised when President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with Dr. Ahmad Zahid Bin Hamidi, Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Rural and Regional Development, at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Monday.

During the meeting at Malacañan, Marcos and Hamidi discussed how the Philippines and Malaysia can work together to strengthen disaster resilience, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

Hamidi mentioned a Malaysian special group called SMART Team, which could be sent to the Philippines during typhoons and disasters with the President’s approval.

Marcos welcomed Malaysia’s “very generous” offer and hoped it could be done “as soon as everyone is ready for that.”

“We exchanged views on disaster risk reduction and management, and I’m grateful for Malaysia’s offer to collaborate in this critical sector for future disaster response and rescue efforts,” he said in a Facebook post.

Marcos said they also discussed their intent to develop skilled workforces, in line with technological advances through technical education.

The PCO said Marcos and Hamidi both acknowledged that it is vital to have more technical and skilled workforce to respond to the changing world and usher development.

Marcos told Hamidi that the Philippines has a “very good workforce,” describing it as young, hardworking, and well-trained.

“Filipinos are used to working with foreign entities because of our diaspora. But we have to train them. After Covid, everything is new. The technologies are different,” he said.

With the country’s large population working abroad, Marcos said the government adopted a system for skills training, providing knowledge mostly in construction to train plumbers, electricians, and carpenters.

Hamidi said Malaysia is focused on encouraging students to choose Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

He said Malaysia also wants to learn from the Philippine education system.

Marcos stressed that during the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, Southeast Asian leaders agreed that a well-trained workforce is necessary for a strong economy.

Both the Philippines and Malaysia are ASEAN member-states.

In 2023, Malaysia was the Philippines’ ninth largest trading partner out of 230, with total trade amounting to USD8.15 billion. (PNA)