MANILA on Tuesday forged a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Seoul that seeks to put forward the development of the two Asian countries’ farm sectors through bilateral cooperation.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said this is the first MOU between the Philippines and South Korea in their 70 years of diplomatic cooperation.
“The MOU, the first Comprehensive Agreement on Agricultural Cooperation, will now serve as the ‘mother document’ of all succeeding cooperation agreements,” Piñol said in a post in his official Facebook page.
The MOU was signed by Piñol on behalf of the Philippines, while Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Acting Minister Kim Hyeon-soo signed on behalf of South Korea.
The MOU was one of the major agreements inked before the bilateral meeting between President Duterte and South Korean President Moon Jae-In, according to Piñol.
The agriculture chief is part of the delegation of the President’s official three-day state visit to South Korea.
“In spite of existing cooperation projects implemented by the Korean International Cooperation Agency, both sides overlooked the fact that there was no mother document that set the parameters of the cooperation,” Piñol said.
“With the MOU on agricultural cooperation signed today [Monday], various activities are now being lined up, including technology transfer on mechanization and irrigation,” he added.
Under the MOU, the two countries will promote cooperation in the following areas: exchange of information on agricultural and rural development policies; technical partnership and exchange of exports to promote the agricultural sector and foster rural developments and cooperation in agriculture development with the aim of ensuring food security.
Furthermore, the Philippines and South Korea will promote “cooperation in technology and skills development on irrigation and drainage systems, mechanization of agriculture, agricultural research, and enchancement of postharvest management and the distribution system,” according to the MOU.
The two countries would also strengthen the linkage of their respective farmer organizations with community production and processing technology.
Under the MOU, the Philippines and South Korea would also promote engagement between their public and private sectors while facilitating private investments in agriculture.
A joint committee on agriculture, which would be known as the Republic of Philippines-the Republic of Korea Joint Committee on Agriculture, will be established to coordinate bilateral cooperation in line with the provisions of the MOU.
“The committee will detailed cooperation programs and monitor the implementation of the present memorandum of understanding,” the MOU read, a copy of which was posted by Piñol on his Facebook page.
The joint committee will be co-chaired by representatives from the two countries with at least a director level.
The present MOU between Manila and Seoul will be valid for five years and could be extended for an additional five years “by mutual consent” of both countries.