Duterte meets Singapore President Halimah in Malacañang

President Rodrigo Duterte welcomes Singaporean President Halimah Yacob as she arrives in the country for a 5-day state visit. Darryl Esguerra/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday afternoon officially welcomed visiting Singaporean President Halimah Yacob in Malacañan Palace.

The official welcome ceremony for Halimah, the first female president of Singapore, was moved to Malacañang’s Reception Hall from Kalayaan grounds due to inclement weather.

She arrived in the Palace around 3:24 p.m. where she was greeted by Duterte and other Cabinet members.

Halimah is currently on a five-day state visit to Manila to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Singapore.

Duterte and Halimah are set to hold a bilateral meeting to tackle areas of mutual concern in the interest of furthering political, economic, cultural and people-to-people engagement between the two countries.

The two leaders are also set to witness the signing of agreements between the Philippines and Singapore.

After her engagements in Malacañang, Halimah is scheduled to meet the Philippines-Singapore Business Council on Tuesday.

She is also scheduled to visit Duterte’s hometown Davao City, where she will visit the Philippine Eagle Foundation and engage in a dialogue with the Mindanao youth. /je

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