President Halimah Yacob will make a State Visit to the Republic of the Philippines from 8 to 12 September 2019 at the invitation of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. President Halimah will visit Manila and Davao City. The visit will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Philippines.
In Manila, President Halimah will receive a ceremonial welcome. She will call on and be hosted to a State Banquet by President Duterte. President Halimah will deliver opening remarks at the 14th Philippines-Singapore Business Council (PSBC) Meeting and have lunch with PSBC members. She will also witness the opening of Podium Office Tower and visit Singaporium – a lifestyle and food pop-up organised by Enterprise Singapore featuring Singapore companies – in Manila, as well as attend a reception for the overseas Singaporean community in Manila.
In Davao City, President Halimah will be hosted to dinner by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. President Halimah will visit the Philippine Eagle Center, home to the critically endangered Philippine Eagles. Singapore is host to a pair of Philippines Eagles which arrived in June 2019 under a ten-year breeding loan agreement. President Halimah will also engage in a dialogue session with youths at the Ateneo de Davao University’s Al Qalam Institute for Islamic Identities and Dialogue in Southeast Asia to share about Singapore’s experiences in fostering interfaith harmony and social cohesion.
President Halimah will be accompanied by Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee; Minister in Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for Education Ms Indranee Rajah; Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Dr Koh Poh Koon; Members of Parliament Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin and Ms Cheng Li Hui as well as officials from the President’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Finance. A business delegation organised by the Singapore Business Federation will also visit the Philippines in conjunction with the State Visit.
During President Halimah’s absence, Mr Eddie Teo, Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers, will exercise the function of the Office of the President.