President Ma Ying-jeou met with Dr. Estrella F. Alabastro, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Science and Technology, at the Presidential Office on the afternoon of April 27. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, expressed a warm welcome to Secretary Alabastro on her visit to Taiwan.
The president commented that National Science Council Minister Lee Lou-Chuang last year visited Manila to attend the second Taiwan-Philippine ministerial-level science and technology conference. Consensus was reached on a number of points during the meetings and since then interaction between the two countries in these fields has become quite frequent, he said. The president said that the two sides have already commenced usage of 15 automated meteorological stations. Also, eight weather experts from the Philippine Meteorological Service have visited Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau to learn the latest in meteorological science and to further hone expertise in this area, he said.
President Ma stated that National Science Council Deputy Minister Chen Cheng-hong in April led a delegation to Manila to attend a Taiwan-Philippines forum on climate change technology. Cooperation between the two countries presently includes looking into the feasibility of setting up a weather radar station in the northern Philippines, the president said. In addition, both sides continue working together under the APEC framework to establish a typhoon research center.
The president said that countries in recent years have emphasized regional cooperation with regards to research on climate change. Given the proximity of Taiwan and the Philippines, and the threat that natural disasters pose to both countries, Taiwan and the Philippines have a need to strengthen cooperation in this regard, he noted.
President Ma said that Secretary Alabastro and Undersecretary Graciano P. Yumul Jr. have repeatedly advocated the position that science and technology know no boundaries. The president expressed his appreciation to them for their support of technology cooperation between the two countries. Meanwhile, the president, knowing that the Philippines will hold general elections in less than two weeks, expressed his hope that after the elections a high level of interaction in science and technology will continue between the two countries.
Secretary Alabastro expressed her appreciation to President Ma for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with her and her colleague. She also said she hopes that the two countries will further their interaction and cooperation in science and technology. Furthermore, she expressed her deepest appreciation to Taiwan for providing an environment for scientists and technicians from the Philippines to study.
Secretary Alabastro and Undersecretary Yumul were accompanied to the Presidential Office in the afternoon by National Science Council Minister Lee Lou-Chuang and Deputy Minister Chen Cheng-hong to meet President Ma. Also in attendance was National Security Council Advisor Dr. Philip Y. M. Yang.