Taiwan and the Philippines signed a livestock research agreement and discussed potential exports, with Taiwan's agriculture ministry saying the effort is meant to widen opportunities for farmers and businesses.
The memorandum was signed in Cebu on Oct. 16 by Wallace Chow of Taiwan's Taipei Economic and Cultural Office and Corazon Avecilla-Padiernos, chair of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Avecilla-Padiernos represents the Philippines in Taiwan.
Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture separately identified four Philippine agencies that will work with Taiwan on research: the Agricultural Training Institute, Bureau of Animal Industry, National Dairy Authority and Philippine Carabao Center. The ministry named the two representative offices as MOU signatories, distinguishing them from the four research partners. Planned work includes technical exchanges and staff visits, with the goal of applying research results and sharing industry experience.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Tu Wen-jane and Livestock Research Institute Director Huang Chen-fang traveled to Cebu for the meeting, the agriculture ministry said. Taiwanese officials also discussed possible exports of atemoya and animal products to the Philippines. The ministry said Taiwan would continue talks as the proposals go through review and quarantine procedures.
The ministry said the export effort aims to create more opportunities for Taiwanese farmers and businesses and increase farmers' income. Philippine officials also proposed cooperation on banana research and digital agriculture, with the two sides expected to define specific areas of work.
The agricultural cooperation meetings began under a 2005 agriculture and fisheries memorandum signed by Taiwan's representative office in the Philippines and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office. The Cebu session was the 13th meeting in that series.
