The Philippines and Brunei Darussalam recently signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in agriculture and fisheries, marking a renewed push for regional food security, trade, and sustainable development.
The agreement, signed between the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture and Brunei’s Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism at the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry meeting held in Pasay City, outlines joint efforts in key areas such as agrifood trade, agro-biotechnology, aquaculture, and precision agriculture. The MOU formalizes a commitment first signaled in a Letter of Intent signed in May last year.
The Southeast Asian neighbors will collaborate on research, exchange of expertise, and market access promotion. Areas of cooperation include livestock and poultry development, disease prevention, high-yield crop technologies, and downstream processing in both agriculture and fisheries. The agreement also highlights capacity-building efforts, such as joint training, technical visits, and the sharing of publications, studies, and technical data.
Private sector engagement is also a focus, with both countries committing to facilitate agrifood investment and trade through information sharing, especially in sanitary and phytosanitary standards and market access requirements.
The MOU provides a framework for policy coordination and knowledge exchange, with mechanisms for protecting intellectual property, handling research outcomes, and maintaining confidentiality of shared information.
“This agreement reflects the shared goals of the Philippines and Brunei, good neighbors in Southest Asia, to strengthen agri-fisheries systems and enhance food security through collaboration, innovation, and responsible development,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
Both sides emphasized that the deal underscores long-standing diplomatic and economic ties, while laying the groundwork for mutually beneficial cooperation in the face of regional and global food system challenges.
The MOU takes effect once both parties confirm compliance with their respective domestic procedures through diplomatic channels. The new agriculture‑and‑fisheries MOU between the Philippines and Brunei comes at a time when bilateral trade tips in favor of Brunei, which last year enjoyed a USD224 million trade surplus.
