Malta prince eyes cooperation agreement with Philippines
MANILA, Philippines – After providing assistance to the victims of Syper Typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta wants to strengthen its cooperation with the Philippines.
Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing met with President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang to discuss matters aimed at improving the bilateral engagement between their states.
“The Order of Malta intends to strengthen our collaboration and our relations with the Republic of the Philippines in the short term future. We are discussing the possibility of a cooperation agreement and indeed the elaboration of what we have been doing here so far,” Fra’ Festing said during his courtesy call on Aquino.
“So I hope very much that my visit and that of my colleagues will be part of the ongoing and developing program which will further enhance the relations between the Order and indeed your country,” he added.
Fra’ Festing arrived on Sunday for a seven-day visit here, which marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malta and the Philippines.
On Thursday, he will visit Basey, Samar to inspect the 700 shelter units donated by the Order of Malta to the victims of Yolanda.
During his courtesy call, Fra’ Festing handed over to Aquino a symbolic key representing Malta’s donation of typhoon shelters.
Fra’ Festing was conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Raja for Malta’s disaster relief to the Philippines.
He described Malta’s relationship with the Philippines as not one between donor and beneficiary but as “partners sharing common objectives for the benefits of those who suffer and are in need.”
“We stand by our commitment to work with your people accompanying the delivery of goods and the construction of infrastructures with solidarity and brotherhood embodied in our shared values,” Fra’ Festing said.
In response, President Aquino thanked Fra’ Festing for Malta’s charitable works in the Philippines, from the aftermath of the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991 to the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
“The strength of our partnership comes as no surprise. After all, we share many of the same values, especially given our common Roman Catholic heritage,” Aquino told Fra’ Festing.
‘Malta admires Philippines’
Fra’ Festing praised Filipinos’ resilience in times of natural disasters and economic downturn.
He said the Order of Malta admires “strong-willed” Filipinos who have “deep human values” and “boundless courage and strength.”
“The Republic of the Philippines is one of the most promising industrialized nations. And certainly those of us in Europe have watched with the great deal of interest that fact that in this part of the world, there are countries, which have succeeded in weathering the recent economic storms,” Fra’ Festing said.
Source: The Philippine Star
