Pacts to address climate change, boost tourism, others also signed
(Eagle News)–The Philippines and Qatar have signed at least nine agreements covering cooperation on seafarers’ welfare, tourism, sports and climate change, and on fighting human trafficking.
Among those signed on Monday, April 22, during the state visit of Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Manila were a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to, among others, advance labor protection in both countries through an exchange of expertise in the field of legislation and exchange of studies and research.
Another MOU centered on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates to implement the provisions stipulated in the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention) of 1978, and the amendments, which Qatar acceded to via Decree No. (14) of 2003.
The MOU—agreed upon by the Philippines’ Maritime Industry Authority, (Marina) and Qatar’s Ministry of Transport—“shall apply to the certificates of seafarers who serve on registered merchant ships of any of the participants and sail under its flag except for those who serve on the ships mentioned in Article 3 of the STCW Convention.”
Also signed between the two governments was an MOU on technical cooperation for capacity building to combat climate change.
The agreement between the Philippines’ Climate Change Commission and Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change aims to specifically enhance knowledge sharing and promote transformative climate action, aligned with the shared goals on climate action under the Paris Agreement of 2016.
The Philippines and Qatar also forged an MOU to promote cooperation and facilitate communication between the sports federations of both countries.
Agreements in the fields of tourism and business, and to enhance cooperation for the youth were also inked.
A pact that seeks to facilitate the travel of the parties’ nationals who are on official mission for their respective governments was also signed, along with MOUs signed between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and between the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was also signed.
“Provided, the passport presented must have a validity period of at least three months beyond the period of allowed stay in the territory of the other Party,” the MOU said.