The Philippines and Cyprus formally signed three bilateral agreements on Wednesday on seafarer certification, sports, and the facilitation of evacuation of Filipino nationals during crises.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and visiting Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos signed the memoranda of understanding (MOU) after a bilateral meeting at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) office.
The MOU on sports cooperation will cover promoting joint activities between the Philippines and Cyprus on physical education and sports, and sharing best practices on sports management and infrastructure, among others.
The MOU on Filipinos overseas, on the other hand, provides a framework allowing Cyprus to facilitate the safe and efficient evacuation of Philippine nationals in times of emergency, especially those coming from crisis-affected areas in the Middle East or North Africa.
Meanwhile, the MOU on the recognition of certificates issued under the Provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers (STCW) replaces the old 2001 MOU in view of the amendments to the STCW in 2010.
During the meeting, Lazaro and Kombos also discussed opportunities for deeper engagement in education, the labor sector, and economic relations.
Kombos said the future free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and the Philippines is a “historic achievement” with the potential to further bridge the economies of the Philippines and Cyprus.
“As far as Cyprus is concerned, this would be facilitating growth in our economic relations in both directions,” he said in a joint presser.
Cyprus, currently host to more than 8,000 Filipinos, is the Philippines’ 113th trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching USD4.52 million in 2025.
The DFA said Kombos’ productive visit to Manila highlights more than 45 years of growing cooperation in mutual interest between the two states, including but not limited to maritime affairs, people-to-people, and consular issues. (PNA)
