PHL eyes importing oil from Equatorial Guinea

The Philippines has expressed interest in conducting oil exploration and importing oil from Equatorial Guinea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday. Philippine Ambassador Nestor Padalhin relayed this message when he presented his credentials to Equatorial Guinea President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on May 12. "Ambassador Padalhin expressed Philippine interest to partner with entities in Equatorial Guinea to conduct oil exploration and the possibility of importing oil from Equatorial Guinea," the DFA said in a news release posted on its website on Tuesday. "He likewise expressed Philippine interest in developing facilities for seaports to improve cargo handling and delivery," the DFA added. He noted there are more than 4,000 Filipino workers in Equatorial Guinea. Former Spanish colonies Citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Abuja, the DFA said Padalhin had a one-on-one meeting with Obiang where he "recalled the shared historical and cultural heritage between the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea, being former Spanish colonies." Padalhin also stressed the good bilateral relations between the two countries, highlighted by the visit of President Obiang to the Philippines in May 2006 and the visit of then Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Equatorial Guinea in June 2007. Padalhin noted that the two countries have had "cooperative relations," particularly in trade and investments, agriculture, education, cultural, and technical fields. On trade and investment, Padalhin invited business people from Equatorial Guinea to visit the Philippines and participate in its trade fairs, such as the Manila FAME in October. He also suggested that Equatorial Guinea partner with Philippine companies, particularly banks and construction companies. On agricultural cooperation, Padalhin stated the Philippines is willing to share its technical know-how in agriculture and aquaculture. On educational and technical cooperation, he said that the Philippines is ready to provide Equatorial Guinea with professional services in education, construction and infrastructure building. "This may be done through exchanges of university professors and experts, consultants and advisers, and by training personnel in the educational and technical fields," the DFA said. The Philippines also welcomes students from Equatorial Guinea to study in Philippine universities, colleges, and vocational-technical institutes. On multilateral relations, Padalhin emphasized that the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea support each other in multilateral bodies such as the United Nations and the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP). - VVP, GMA News