THE Philippines and Brazil signed six memoranda of understanding and agreements on the development and production of renewable energy, and agriculture cooperation, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

President Arroyo, who is on a four-day state visit to Brazil, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva witnessed the signing after their meeting in Brazil’s capital Brasilia on Wednesday (Brazil time).

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) of Brazil signed an MOU on the possibility of starting a program for sharing knowledge on renewable energy.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Girolondo Breeders Association of Brazil signed a joint statement on the donation of cattle semen for hybrid variety, which will benefit the Philippines dairy industry.

Other MOUs were signed between the DA and the Agronomics Institute of Camoinas for bioethanol and sugar-cane processing, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy on bioenergy cooperation, and the Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Cooperation and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corp.

The two governments signed an Agreement on the Renumerated Employment of Dependents of Diplomatic, Consular, Administrative, and Technical Personnel.

Remonde said in a Palace press statement that Compania Vale Do Rio Doce will invest P600 million in copper and gold exploration in Masbate but did not give other details.

On Tuesday, the President inaugurated the newly expanded Tecon Suape Container Yard of Filipino-owned International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) in the port city of Recife before proceeding to Brasilia.

At the Tecon Suape, the President also unveiled a marker to commemorate her visit to Pernambuco and to Brazil as the first Philippine President to visit the largest South American country.

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in his weekly news briefing that, “For security reasons, the President’s itinerary whether abroad or here is not being made public because the itinerary of the President–-for that matter even generals, military personnel–-is classified confidential because they could be targets of trouble makers.”

Prior to her trip, Malacañang had announced the President would go on a working visit to Japan from June 17 to 20, and a state visit to Brazil from June 22 to 25.

It was later learned that from Tokyo, she had a “technical” stopover in Los Angeles on Saturday which allowed her to meet with the members of the Filipino-American community, and another stopover in Cartagena, Colombia before proceeding to Brazil. Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, head of the united opposition, urged the Palace on Wednesday to reveal the purpose of her side trip to Colombia, which has raised so many speculations.

She is also reportedly making a stopover in Hong Kong for a private visit on her way home from Sao Paolo.