NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar — Ngayong araw, Marso 19, inaasahang darating si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa Myanmar, sa unang pagkakataon.

Nakatakdang makipagpulong ang Pangulo kay Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw upang talakayin ang mas matibay na ugnayan ng Pilipinas at Myanmar.

“President Duterte’s visit to Myanmar is significant in many respects. In particular, the discussion will include talks on improving trade and investment relations,” ayon kay Alex Chua, Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Ang pagbisita ni Duterte sa Myanmar, mula Marso 19 hanggang 20, ay kaugnay ng selebrasyon ng ika-60 anibersaryo ng pagkakatatag ng Philippines-Myanmar bilateral relations.

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“Commemorative activities have been held beginning last year and the President’s visit toMyanmar this year is the culmination of the celebration of this milestone in our friendly relations withMyanmar,” ani Chua.

Sa pagbisita ni Duterte, ayon kay Chua, inaasahang lalagdaan ng dalawang pamahalaan ang Memorandum of Understanding on Food Security and Agricultural Cooperation.

Samantala, hindi naman magkamayaw ang mga Pilipino sa Myanmar nang malaman ang pagbisita ni Duterte.

Ngunit para kay Olivia Ramos de Guzman, pangulo ng Pilipinas MM, ang Filipino community sa Myanmar, halo-halong emosyon ang kanyang nararamdaman.

“Actually, I was really mixed emotions when… a lot of Filipinos here are so excited. It’s not only actually the President who’s very excited about this,” pahayag ni De Guzman.

Ayon sa Filipino community leader, nalaman niya ang balitang pagbisita ni Duterte mula sa isang taxi driver.

“It’s not from the Filipinos but it’s from a taxi driver,” sabi ni De Guzman. “He said, ‘You are a Filipino?

President, President,’ and he showed me a newspaper saying that our President is coming. So he was very popular here in Myanmar.” (Roy Mabasa)