President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is eyeing stronger agricultural cooperation with Chile and closer collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the post-pandemic era.

This was after Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren and WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala had separate meetings with Marcos at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Friday.

During his meeting with Van Klaveren, the President expressed his intent to strengthen the Philippines’ ties and cooperation with Chile, saying it is “the best way forward in this very interconnected world.”

“Although physical distance used to be a problem or an obstacle, that does not apply any longer. So, I think there is much that we can do to further the relations and the partnerships between our two countries,” he told Van Klaveren, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office in a news release on Saturday.

Marcos said he hopes to deepen the two nations’ relations in various areas of cooperation, particularly trade, investment, and agriculture.

He said the Philippines may tie up with Chile to boost the agriculture sector, specifically in cacao cultivation and processing.

“Because it is becoming a very important crop, slowly becoming an important crop, we are trying to promote it. And you have, I think, the best technologies when it comes to that product,” Marcos said.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, also present during Van Klaveren’s courtesy call, said fish and mineral exports from Mindanao are also being considered.

“(There are) skin beauty products and other things that we can (explore)… also the agriculture sector and the seafood products that we can export to them,” Roque said, citing the deep-sea port that was opened in Peru for the benefit of Asian products going to South America.

Marcos also thanked Chile for confirming its support for the Philippines’ bid to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027-2028 term, in exchange for the country’s support for Chile’s candidature to the same body for the 2029-2030 term.

Van Klaveren said his short stay in the Philippines was “very productive” as he was able to discuss with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo the Philippines and Chile’s bilateral relations, as well as other regional and global issues.

The Philippines and Chile established diplomatic relations on July 4, 1946.

In 2023, Chile was the Philippines’ 49th trading partner out of 230, 47th export market out of 205, and 50th import supplier out of 221.

Meeting with WHO

Meanwhile, Marcos said he hopes for increased collaboration with WHO in the post-pandemic era.

“I’m sure (Health) Secretary Ted (Herbosa) has explained to you what the Philippines has been trying to do, especially (on) post-pandemic lessons learned. So, whatever guidance that the WHO can provide us is something that we will certainly welcome,” he told Piukala in a separate meeting at Malacañan.

Piukala was elected to the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in Oct. 2023 and appointed to the WHO Executive Board in January this year. He took office on Feb. 1.

As regional director, Piukala leads the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office in its work with governments and partners across the Western Pacific to enhance regional health outcomes and ensure the safety of the region’s population. (PNA)