MANILA and Moscow have signed a cooperation agreement to bolster ties between the two megacities, in a move seen to lead to partnership deals on trade ties, health care, environment, and investments, among others.
Pavlov said the agreement will allow the Philippines to showcase its tourism program to Muscovites, who will appreciate the country’s thousand islands. Filipino tourists in turn will also be able to see the transformation in Moscow, which has been adjudged as the No. 1 city in the world as per the UN Habitat’s City Prosperity Index.
Other innovations introduced in Moscow, which is debt-free and contributes $330 billion in gross domestic product to Russia, are free Wi-fi for buses and other places and more playgrounds. As a result, the city has been cited as one of the cleanest metropolises in the world even as it attracts foreign direct investments to the tune of $250 million. This resulted in the country being insulated from the effects of sanctions imposed before.
She said the DICT has already pilot-tested an end-to-end registration of business firms, payment of real estate tax and civil registry in 25 municipalities. Ultimately, the project involves all the 906 local government units in the country.