Philippines Ambassador to Brunei Alexander Badong Yano

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei and the Philippines are currently negotiating to further increase air connectivity between the Sultanate and key areas of Philippines' island of Mindanao.

Newly appointed Philippines Ambassador to Brunei Alexander Badong Yano said that such improvements in air connectivity would help promote and improve both the tourism industry and trade industry of the two countries.

"This will cater to not only passengers and tourists, but also goods. We have a very abundant supply of fruits, vegetables and other resources in such areas," he said on the sidelines during a briefing on the Philippines Embassy Programmes and Services for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) yesterday at St George's Church in the capital.

"We hope to sustain whatever gains we have in ongoing cooperation and to promote further investment in trade and tourism flows particularly in the BIMP-EAGA region," he said.

"We want to further build bridges of friendship, cooperation and understanding between the Filipinos and Bruneians," added the ambassador.

He also spoke of previous cooperation between the two countries in the past, such as the assistance of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in the development of Philippine's largest mosque, a $48 million project which includes a library building, a physical centre for the Dharul Ifta (House of Opinion) and buildings for a tertiary school on Islam.

The Philippines, on the other hand, is providing assistance to the Sultanate in rice production, a continuing project to help establish food security in Brunei, said Yano.

"In fact, Brunei's Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar was in Mindanao recently to look into further agriculture cooperation particularly in the Halal industry and other possible investment opportunities in Mindanao," he said.

When asked what were some of the difficulties encountered by Filipino expatriates living in the Sultanate, the ambassador replied that Filipinos living here generally do not encounter much problems due to the country's friendly atmosphere and government.

"We have a sizeable number of Filipinos here, approximately 22,000, spread along different sectors of the community and economy of Brunei," he said, adding that their work ethics, skills and contributions have been appreciated and acknowledged by not only the population of Brunei, but also His Majesty.

Yano, who previously served as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said that he was still adjusting to the new environment and the new job.

"I served and retired from the military last May which is a different job. It is my first time being a diplomat in the country (which) I find very interesting. I enjoy the life, it is very organised, quiet and peaceful," he said.

Yesterday's briefing for Filipinos working in Brunei, touched on the different programmes and services provided by the embassy for them. Such services included consular assistance, welfare, labour and social security, as well as assistance in helping OFWs understand the different rules and regulations of Brunei. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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