Rody back from SoKor

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte waves at the members of the send-off party as he departs for Manila at the Gimhae Air Base in Busan, Republic of Korea on November 26, 2019. ARMAN BAYLON/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte has arrived in the country following his visit to South Korea on Tuesday night – just as the Philippines is drawing flak over its hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).

The President arrived in Manila at 6:17 p.m. after joining other Southeast Asian leaders in a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the Korean port city of Busan.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go earlier said the President is “very concerned” with the welfare of foreign athletes who will participate in the Games.

“The President is very concerned with the way visitors are being treated, especially since the country’s reputation is at stake,” said Go.

Meantime, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said Duterte – his his attendance to the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of Korea (RoK) Commemorative Summit — supported new initiatives on increasing trade and investments, connectivity, capacity-building for MSMEs, technical vocational education training, smart city development, and startup programs.

The President also called for more strategic and preventive collective action to address threats to regional peace and security, including terrorism and violent extremism, drug trafficking, piracy and other maritime security issues, marine conservation, and climate change-related issues.

The leaders also adopted the Joint Vision Statement for Peace, Prosperity, and Partnership, which will serve as blueprint for the next 30 years of dialogue relations.

At their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit, President Duterte and President Moon agreed to work towards the elevation of the Philippines-RoK bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.

The President also invited Moon to undertake a State Visit to the Philippines at the soonest mutually convenient opportunity.

The two Leaders also witnessed the signing and exchange of key agreements namely, Social Security Agreement, an Implementing Program for Tourism Cooperation and a Joint Statement on progress in the ongoing Philippine-RoK Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Agreements on education and fisheries cooperation were also signed in separate ceremonies in Busan.