President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. was in the Philippines starting yesterday, February 15, to meet Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at his home city – Davao.
In an ambush interview during the handover ceremony of the PSS Kedam vessel at the Division of Marine Law Enforcement (DMLE) in Koror, Palau on Tuesday, Remengesau said, referring to Duterte as a “fellow brother”, that the purpose of the visit is to discuss about how the two countries can improve their friendship, relationship, and operations. {restrict]
When asked whether he is going to discuss to the Philippine president the issue of Filipino fishermen encroaching Palau waters, Remengesau said that this subject is “always an area of cooperation.”
“We have ways for fishing licenses to be issued, the thing is it’s gonna be documented, it’s gonna be regulated so we can also have an idea about how much fish is being caught,” Remengesau said, stressing that this has been part of the challenge.
The status of illegal fishing in Palau, according to Remengesau, is a lot better than before when the country’s “policies are not well-known.”
“I think the more we communicate, the more we understand what the laws and what the requirements are. There is room for cooperation here and that’s what we want also — to get and understand where things are,” he said.
President Remengesau left Palau on February 15 to meet President Duterte and he is set to be there until February 18.
“The two Presidents, through recent communications, agreed to meet and get to know one another and start discussions on mutual interests and respective mutual issues,” reads the press statement furnished by Palau’s Office of the President to Island Times.
With Palau’s large population of Filipino Nationals, President Remengesau will have the opportunity to thank President Duterte for the many Filipinos who have continued to contribute to Palau’s economy over so many years, it added.
President Remengesau looks forward to discussing ways both countries can enhance mutual interests in foreign labor, cultural exchange, medical tourism, agriculture, aquaculture, and education. (Rhealyn C. Pojas)