PHILIPPINE and Canadian experts on Friday called for stronger bilateral cooperation on economic security, emerging technologies, and resilient trade systems amid global tensions.
The call came during a high-level conference, "Building Economic Security through Strengthened Canada-Philippines Partnership," jointly organized by the Stratbase Institute and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada). The event convened government officials, business leaders, and international experts to discuss strategic collaboration and long-term economic resilience.
Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres "Dindo" Manhit emphasized that economic security is inseparable from national security.
"Economic security cannot and should not be achieved by any single country acting alone. Economic security is national security," he said, citing the Philippines’ geostrategic location in the Indo-Pacific, including critical corridors such as Subic Bay and the Batanes-Bashi Channel.
"Every message, email, or digital transaction often passes through our territory," Manhit noted, referencing the country’s 2016 victory in the International Arbitral Tribunal against China over parts of the South China Sea and related legislation protecting its maritime identity.
Manhit stressed that resilient growth and inclusive governance require partnerships with like-minded countries, pointing to Canada as a trusted partner. He outlined sectors for collaboration such as critical minerals, energy, digital infrastructure, and defense investments.
"We have tracked who our friends are. We continue to ask the question: who do we trust? It is with these allies that we can ensure resilient and vibrant economic systems," he said.
Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman echoed these sentiments, stressing that economic security intersects with trade, technology, energy, infrastructure, and national resilience.
"Let there be no doubt — economic security is national security," Hartman said, noting that recent global disruptions, including conflicts in the Middle East, have exposed how distant events can affect energy markets and trade flows.
Hartman pointed out ongoing Canada-Philippines free trade agreement negotiations, which, if concluded, would mark the Philippines’ first such agreement with a North American country.
"Both the Philippines and Canada have set an ambitious timeline to conclude these negotiations this calendar year, and Canada remains fully committed to achieving that goal," he said. "Modern trade agreements are far more than about just reducing tariffs. They create stable and predictable frameworks that help economies diversify supply chains and strengthen investment confidence. In a time of global uncertainty, these qualities are essential."
The ambassador also pointed to concrete examples of bilateral cooperation, including trade missions connecting hundreds of companies in technology, agriculture, and digital services, as well as partnerships among more than 250 educational and research institutions.
Canada is supporting the Philippines’ transition from coal to renewable energy with a $230 million investment under the Climate Investment Funds’ accelerated coal transition program. Technical assistance in agriculture — covering plant health, dairy management, and seed potato production — further supports food security and rural development.
Manhit further noted that public sentiment in the Philippines strongly favors partnerships with trusted countries. Surveys conducted by Pulse Asia Research Inc. and commissioned by Stratbase consistently show that Filipinos value cooperation with countries that share democratic values and long-standing ties with the Philippines, with Canada repeatedly ranking as one of the most trusted.
Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada vice president for research and strategy, outlined three key areas for deepened collaboration: strengthening resilient supply chains, advancing cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, and expanding policy frameworks that support secure trade and investment.
"At a time of growing global uncertainty, strengthening this partnership has never been more important," she said. "The Philippines has emerged as an anchor partner for Canada in the region, and there is a real opportunity now to deepen our economic and security cooperation in ways that deliver concrete benefits for both countries."
