President Benigno S. Aquino III and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday held a bilateral meeting and discussed common concerns on combating illegal drug trade and drug abuse.
”The two leaders noted their countries’ common concerns on combating illegal drug trade and drug abuse,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. informed the Malacañang media.
”Like Colombia, the Philippines is taking steps to improve people’s quality of life by bringing social opportunities closer to them, thus channeling their energies to legitimate sources of income,” Coloma added.
Coloma said Pres. Santos offered Colombia’s knowledge and experience in anti-insurgency and anti-illegal drugs campaign, citing decades-long fight in these two fronts.
Pres. Aquino also congratulated the Colombian leader for significant developments in Colombia’s peace process and negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
”President Aquino expressed good wishes on scheduled signing of final agreement in 2016,” Coloma said.
Coloma said Pres. Aquino offered the Philippines’ assistance and advice in the peace process.
The Philippine government is also conducting a similar peace negotiation with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) and the Muslim rebels in Mindanao.
At present, Malacañang is pushing for Congress passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) which, if passed into law, would lead to the successful peace negotiation between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Aquino also shared the Philippines’ experiences on programs such as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) or Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program and PhilHealth universal health care to address poverty issues that previously bred insurgency, noting common challenges faced by both countries.
Santos, according to Coloma, is looking up to the Philippines as a vital resource in adapting to and mitigating the effects of the climate change.
”President Aquino said that the Philippines will share learning and best practices in building back better and establishing disaster resiliency,” Coloma said.
Aquino also thanked the Colombian president for accepting the invitation to participate in the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)-Pacific Alliance informal conversation.
”He noted that the efforts and initiatives of Colombia to become a part of APEC will hopefully find full fruition in the near future,” Coloma said.
Santos is the second leader who held bilateral meeting with Pres. Aquino during the ongoing 2015 APEC Summit.
Last Monday, Pres. Aquino and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet held expanded bilateral meeting that resulted in the signing of two agreements on trade and disaster risk reduction management. (PCOO-APEC Communications Team)
