09 May 2014 - Philippine Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Maldives Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo presented his credentials to Maldivian President Yameen Abdul Gayoom on April 21.

Both were heartened by developments in bilateral relations between the Philippines and Maldives, as President Aquino has already received the credentials of the first Non-Resident Maldivian Ambassador to the Philippines Hussain Shihab, and the Philippines also recently appointed the Philippine Honorary Consul in Male, Abdullah Salih.

The Philippines and Maldives are currently working on agreements for transfer of persons, sports cooperation, medicine and health services, immigration, and labor.

The two countries will celebrate 40 years of bilateral relations on 12 July 2014 and President Gayoom expressed the hope that the two countries can have a meaningful celebration to mark it. Ambassador Bandillo gave assurance that the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh will pursue more vigorously trade and cultural exchanges between the Philippines and Maldives. END