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Agencies / PDI
MANILA
THE Philippines and Indonesia have agreed to improve maritime security between the two countries to prevent terrorists from taking advantage of their porous borders, Malacaأ±ang said on Thursday.
President Duterte met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City on Wednesday and both agreed on some"security arrangements," according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
"There were some agreements with Indonesia relating to security that was agreed upon by the President and (Indonesian) President (Joko) Widodo although details cannot be divulged," Roque said.
"It was actually a courtesy call, a t'eate-'e0-t'eate, and the President indicated that there were security agreements and arrangements agreed upon between the two countries," Roque added.
In a statement, Malacaأ±ang said the President raised the need to improve border security to prevent local and foreign terrorists from easily going in and out of the country.
Malacaأ±ang said Duterte and Indonesia's top diplomat also agreed to elevate cooperation on trade and education and eradicate terrorism.
Duterte also expressed interest in the resumption of the Philippine-Indonesia trade routes to strengthen trade between the two countries.
Meanwhile, reports said that Indonesian practices are to be included in Philippine school curriculum. The Philippines will collaborate with Indonesia to enhance Islamic education in the country as part of efforts to counter religious extremism in the aftermath of the occupation of Marawi City by Muslim extremists last year.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Indonesia had offered to share its best practices in Islamic education within the context of regional efforts to prevent the spread of extremism.
Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano called Indonesia"one of the models" of Islamic education that the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations could consider.
While the Philippines and Indonesia have an existing agreement on education, the two nations are discussing another form of cooperation on Islamic education, according to the DFA.
"Our Indonesian friends do not want to see another Marawi happening and are offering to help us counter radicalisation through education," Cayetano said.
