PHL, PNG expand ties on food, fisheries, tourism

The Philippines and Papua New Guinea have expanded cooperation in fisheries and agriculture this year, with the neighboring Pacific countries also moving to strengthen tourism links as Port Moresby marked its national day on 16 September.

In May, the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding with PNG's National Fisheries Authority covering fisheries trade, aquaculture, technology transfer, technical exchanges and capacity building.

The agreement also calls for stronger cooperation against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

PNG Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Jelta Wong called for closer fisheries management, data sharing and technical cooperation between the countries.

Agriculture Secretary Kiko Tiu Laurel said the agreement recognized the importance of the waters connecting the Philippines and PNG to food security and livelihoods.

The agreement came as Philippine fisheries production dropped 15.3 percent in the first quarter of 2026, per Philippine Statistics Authority data.

Output fell to 856,291.91 metric tons from 1.01 million metric tons during the same period last year.

Declines were recorded in aquaculture and municipal fisheries, while commercial fisheries posted higher production.

Philippine and PNG officials also opened talks in May on possible cooperation in large-scale rice production and fertilizer supply.

The discussions were held on the sidelines of the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby.

Officials also discussed updating a 2018 agricultural cooperation agreement covering rice and grain production, coconut, coffee, cocoa, rubber, palm oil, livestock, aquaculture, post-harvest development and agricultural training.

Under the earlier arrangement, the Philippines helped establish a model rice farm in Papua New Guinea and deployed Filipino agricultural technicians.

The project envisioned producing rice first for PNG's domestic requirements, with surplus production potentially exported to the Philippines.

No new fertilizer price, volume or supply commitment was announced following the May discussions.

PNG also stepped up efforts to attract Filipino tourists in July, joining the Travel Madness Expo in Manila.

Its exhibition was named Best Booth in the National Tourism Organization category at the three-day event, held in July and attended by more than 170 tourism organizations, airlines, hotels, resorts and travel agencies.

Air Niugini and the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority used the event to promote the country's diving destinations, islands, trekking routes, birdwatching sites, cultural festivals and coffee.

Air Niugini chief executive Alan Milne said international travel exhibitions were being used to increase awareness of PNG and attract more overseas visitors.

Despite its proximity, PNG remains a relatively unfamiliar destination to many Filipinos compared with the Philippines' Southeast Asian and Northeast Asian neighbors.

The country maintains an embassy in Manila, while the Philippines operates an embassy in Port Moresby.

The recent agreements have put much of the bilateral relationship on practical ground: securing fish stocks, increasing food production, exploring fertilizer supplies and bringing more travelers across the Pacific.