PH, MALAYSIA TO COLLABORATE MORE ON EDUCATION, DISASTER RESPONSE

THE Philippines and Malaysia agreed on Monday for a stronger collaboration in many areas particularly on education and disaster response and management.

The agreement was made after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed in Malacañang Dr. Ahmad Zahid Bin Hamidi, Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Rural and Regional Development.

In welcoming Hamidi during a courtesy call, they both saw the need to have more technical and skilled workforce to respond to the changing world and usher development.

During their discussion, the President highlighted the Philippines’ “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,” the President said.

The President noted that during the ASEAN Summit, the leaders concluded that a well-trained workforce is necessary to have a strong economy.

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

For his part, Hamidi said Malaysia wants to learn from the Philippine education system, as he noted his country’s focus on encouraging students to choose Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

In terms of disaster response cooperation, Hamido mentioned a Malaysian special group called SMART Team, which could be sent to the Philippines during typhoons and disasters with the President’s approval.

“Of course, that is a very generous offer of assistance. Yes, thank you. Actually, we can organize that as soon as everyone is ready for that,” President Marcos said in response.

President Marcos earlier undertook a State Visit to Malaysia in July last year, which was reciprocated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who made his official visit to the Philippines in March 2023.

Last year, Malaysia was the Philippines’ ninth largest trading partner out of 230, with total trade amounting to US$8.15 billion.