A HUNGARIAN COMPANY specializing in water management systems has expressed interest in working with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to improve its capabilities in times of calamity, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.
In a statement, the DFA said Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr in his visit to Hungary met with officials of the Hungarian Watertechnology Corp. (HWTC) in Erd, Hungary on Feb. 14.
HWTC Chief Executive Officer Adrian Kiss presented to Mr. Locsin the possible areas for cooperation between Philippine and Hungarian businesses. The DFA added that the Foreign Affairs Secretary was also accompanied by retired Ambassador Marciano A. Paynor, Jr., who is also a consultant for Ayala Corp.
“HWTC officials have previously visited the Philippines to personally see Laguna de Bay and discuss possible projects with the Laguna Lake Development Authority. They have also offered support to the Philippine government through possible cooperation with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to improve the government’s capabilities to utilize state-of-the-art water technology in times of calamities,” the DFA said.
Mr. Locsin also invited Hungarian firms to look into applying their expertise towards the rehabilitation of Lake Lanao in Mindanao. According to its website, HWTC builds water and wastewater treatment systems, and flood protection infrastructure worldwide.
Aside from his visit to the company, Mr. Locsin also held bilateral talks with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in Budapest on Feb. 15 and discussed further cooperation between two countries on trade, education, economy, and politics.
The DFA said the two ministers “acknowledged the growing trade relations between the Philippines and Hungary, and the increasing mutual interest between businesses from both countries in each other’s markets.”
“Hungarian products have been introduced in the Philippines, such as energy drinks, with meat imports possibly following,” the DFA stated.
Mr. Szijjarto also said Hungary has the water technology and expertise to support the rehabilitation of Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay.
Mr. Locsin also thanked the Hungarian government for its support for the Philippines’ policies, including the campaign against illegal drugs, as well as its financial assistance to the victims of the January Jolo bombing.
Both foreign ministers pledged to continue supporting each other’s advocacies in various international organizations, especially in the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council and reaffirmed their commitment to protect Christian minorities in conflict areas worldwide.
Mr. Locsin also met on Feb. 13 Hungarian National Assembly Speaker Laszlo Kover in Budapest, who expressed interest in further expanding bilateral relations through parliamentary friendship groups in the Hungarian Parliament and the Philippine Congress.
The DFA also noted that the Hungarian agricultural minister Istvan Nagy is set to visit Manila and that the inaugural Joint Economic Commission between the two countries in Budapest are scheduled in the first half of 2019. — Camille A. Aguinaldo
