11 May 2015 – Republic of Palau Vice President and Minister of Justice Antonio Bells expressed his desire for the Philippines and Palau to become closer friends.

Vice President Bells conveyed this sentiment to Honorable Minda Calaguian-Cruz, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs, during the latter’s annual official visit to the Republic of Palau on March 11-13.

Vice President Bells and Assistant Secretary Calaguian-Cruz discussed ways for the Philippines and Palau to cooperate in various areas. This includes protecting the well-being of the over-4,000 Filipinos living and working in Palau; facilitating cooperation in the access of social security benefits of pensioners residing in the Philippines; exploring tourism cooperation; and fisheries. The Philippines also offered several technical and capacity-building training programs to Palau in the areas of health, entrepreneurship, and cultural preservation.

Assistant Secretary Calaguian-Cruz also met with other Palauan officials, including Minister of State Mr. Billy Kuartel; Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism Mr. Umiich Sengebau; Republic of Palau Social Security Administration (ROPSSA) Administrator Ms. Ulai Teltull; and Senator Hokkons Baules.

Among the topics she discussed with the above officials were the enhancement of bilateral relations between the two countries through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Policy Consultations; crafting of a more responsive bilateral policy for labor cooperation; solving the difficulties faced by Palau’s Social Security pensioners residing in the Philippines; and technical capacity-building programs for Palauan women and officials.

Assistant Secretary Calaguian-Cruz also briefed the above-mentioned officials on the status of the Philippine arbitration on the West Philippine Sea.

Apart from meeting with Palauan officials, Assistant Secretary Calaguian-Cruz conducted a candid and informal open forum with members of The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP). TFCP members took the opportunity to raise various issues, including labor and social security concerns, that they encounter in Palau. END