Duterte sees improved ties with South Korea

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Duterte is looking forward to strengthening bilateral ties between the Philippines and South Korea in his state visit to Seoul later this week. 

The President yesterday met with Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man in Malacañang a few days before the President meets with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on June 4 in an effort to draw up measures to reinforce alliance and further improve ties between the two countries.

South Korea earlier said it will make available at least $1 billion in loans that the Philippines could avail itself of in the next five years. 

Meanwhile, Duterte is reportedly set to take a commercial flight when he leaves for South Korea. 

The President reportedly still wants to avoid chartered flights for his state visits and other foreign trips to cut expenses. 

Duterte took an eight-seater Challenger plane when he went to Singapore for the 32nd ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) leaders summit last month. 

The Cabinet members and other officials took care of their own travel arrangements.

The President earlier pointed out that the cost of a chartered flight is the same even if the aircraft is full or has only few passengers. 

This will be Duterte’s first visit to South Korea as president. He had traveled to Seoul when he was still Davao City mayor.

Duterte and Moon held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in Manila last year.