Marcos in Berlin for working visit, to boost PH-German ties

BERLIN —President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has arrived in Berlin for a working visit meant to enhance the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Germany.

The PR 001 carrying Marcos and the entire Philippine delegation landed in Berlin at 9:49 p.m. (4:49 a.m. Manila time).

His visit to Berlin is upon the invitation of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz. 

The Philippines and Germany will commemorate their 70th bilateral relations this year.

Germany is home to at least 35,930 overseas Filipino workers, according to data from the Federal Statistics Office as of December 2022. 

Vice President Sara Duterte is the country’s caretaker while the President is abroad, according to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil. 

In Berlin, Marcos will meet with Chancellor Scholz where several agreements will be signed.

These include the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Strengthening Maritime Cooperation and the Cooperation Programme between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). 

He also said the Philippines will tap Germany’s expertise in renewable energy to assist the country in the energy transition efforts and in various sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, aerospace, innovation and startups, IT-BPM, and mineral processing.

Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Irene Susan Natividad said that Marcos’ trip to Germany would be “business-focused."

In 2022, Germany ranked as the Philippines’ 12th trading partner, 10th export market, and 15th import supplier. 

The top export products in Germany in the last five years include electronic products, other manufactures, processed food and beverages, machinery and transport equipment and other electronics.

So far, Philippine imports from Germany are airplanes and other aircraft, including accessories and supplies imported on consignment basis for the manufacture of dice of any material and other parts of helicopters. 

Marcos' trip to Germany, however, does not sit well with some Filipino migrant groups here, including BAYAN Europe, whose members are set to gather in front of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Tuesday afternoon for a protest rally.

“Marcos Jr.’s visit, designed to cleanse his family’s rotten image in Germany and the international community, will not be warmly welcomed,” BAYAN Europe said in a statement.

The group further called out the German government for its commitment to supply drones for the Philippines amid the rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea. 

Earlier this year, it was reported that Germany pledged to provide the Philippine Coast Guard with additional drones which can be used for their operations in the resource-rich region.

After Berlin, Marcos will travel to Prague in the Czech Republic for a state visit. —NB/LDF/KBK, GMA Integrated News