THE Philippines will sign several bilateral agreements with Canada during the official visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Vancouver from July 1 to 4, 2026, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Marcos is set to depart for Vancouver on Wednesday evening. He will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as part of efforts to strengthen the relations and advance cooperation in key strategic areas between the two nations.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos will witness the signing of agreements on energy, natural resources, trade and investment, labor and immigration, tourism, culture and arts.
"The president's visit to Canada aims to further strengthen our good bilateral relationship with Canada. And the partnership between the Philippines and Canada remains vibrant and strong," Castro said in a press briefing.
Castro said Marcos would also meet with Canadian business leaders and investors to promote the Philippines as an investment destination and attract more foreign investments.
"It is also expected that the president will attend various business meetings and private sector engagement, particularly in the cooperation of the president with the economic players of Canada in the field of mining, IT and business process management, telecommunications, nuclear energy and financial services," she said.
The president is likewise scheduled to meet with the Filipino community in Vancouver, in recognition of overseas Filipinos’ contributions to both nations and to their enduring ties.
Meanwhile, Castro said there was no reason to cancel the trip despite the rally on EDSA, saying that the visit has long been scheduled and formed part of the president’s official duties.
"He cannot simply stop because of rumors that several groups will storm Malacañang or attempt to carry out destabilization efforts," she said.
"The president will not be prevented from carrying out his work for the people," she added.
The Philippines and Canada celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024, reflecting a longstanding partnership founded on shared values, especially in promoting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, strong economic ties, and vibrant people-to-people connections.
