RIYADH, 12 June 2004 — Even before the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia on Oct. 24, 1969, they enjoyed stable, friendly and cordial relations. And since ties were formalized, the bond between the two countries keeps getting stronger.
In his Independence Day message, Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla was, therefore, keen to underscore the close relations between the two countries and stressed that the Philippines looks “forward to promoting further collaboration in various activities with the aim of further enhancing ties with the Kingdom.”
Saudi Arabia plays host to close to a million Overseas Filipino Workers and the Philippines in turn relies on the Kingdom for most of its oil requirements. As host to about 850,000 Filipino workers, the Kingdom benefits much from Filipino manpower. Filipino workers are mostly treated well in the Kingdom and preferred over other nationals because of their recognized competence and expertise in various fields of employment.
The Philippines in turn imports more than 40 percent of its oil needs from Saudi Arabia, resulting in a huge deficit between the two countries in favor of the Kingdom. The Philippines imports urea, whether or not in aqueous solution, butane, liquefied crude, propane, liquefied, petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, and anhydrous ammonia.
The Philippines and Saudi Arabia share common interests in international and multilateral organizations, and have been on the same side on many issues in the United Nations and other international forums. On many occasions, both countries have supported the other’s candidatures in the various UN agencies and other world bodies.
Saudi Arabia also gave crucial support in the successful 2004 Philippine absentee voting exercise in the Kingdom this year, which Guinomla says in his message “marked a watershed in our experience as a democratic nation, when migrant Filipinos exercised their right of suffrage for the very first time.
The Kingdom is the Philippines’ 13th largest trading partner. Records made available by the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh show bilateral trade expanded from US$702 million in 1991 to $920 million in 2002. Saudi Arabia is also the Philippines’ biggest trading partner in the Middle East, accounting for 29 percent of the Philippines’ total trade with the region.
Saudi Arabia also plays a key role in the development of Muslim Mindanao in southern Philippines, where its support for the peace process has been steadfast.
Besides hosting about 5,000 Filipino pilgrims for the annual Haj, Saudi Arabia sends donations to Mindanao. The latest of these is the $1.04 million worth of donation made upon request of then Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Nur Misuari. The donation was turned over to Misuari by then Saudi Finance Minister Ali Mansour at Sasa Wharf, Davao city. The donation arrived on June 30, 2001 in Davao.