10 November 2015 - A high level delegation from the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA), headed by Undersecretary Segfredo R. Serrano and composed mostly of officers of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) visited Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG) from November 03 to 06 to finalize the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippines and Papua New Guinea on Agricultural Cooperation and to discuss a draft agreement leading to greater cooperation on rice and rice farming between the two countries.

As a sign of enhanced Philippine-Papua New Guinea bilateral relations, and that cooperation in agriculture continues to expand, Undersecretary Serrano and PNG Secretary Ila’ava initialed the MOU on Agricultural Cooperation, thus paving the way for its eventual signing in the near future. Discussions on rice cooperation were equally fruitful as the PNG side accepted the offer of assistance in rice farming and production from the Philippines. In a move that indicated Philippines’ willingness to assist Papua New Guinea as it strives to implement its rice policy, two members of the delegation to PhilRice, at the invitation of PNG Member of Parliament Anton F. Yagama, went to Madang Province to survey an area where rice could be farmed and cultivated.

The developments gained during the visit are expected to form part of the discussions between President Benigno S. Aquino III and PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill during their bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) in Manila, which will be held from November 16 to 20. END