Overview of Philippines-Singapore Relations
Singapore is a trusted friend, an excellent and reliable partner of the Philippines. As neighbors, the Philippines and Singapore share common goals, vision and aspirations for a peaceful, stable, secure and prosperous region.
The diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Singapore were formally established on 16 May 1969. This year marks the 56th anniversary of Philippines-Singapore bilateral relations.
In 2024, the Philippines and Singapore celebrated its 55th anniversary of enduring partnership. To mark this milestone anniversary, former Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo and Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan launched on 18 April 2024, during the official visit to the Philippines of the latter.
Philippines-Singapore bilateral relations have reached greater heights in many key areas including trade and investment, security and defense cooperation, culture and people-to-people relations. Both countries are also pursuing other emerging areas of cooperation such as in green economy, smart infrastructure, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation and health.
The Philippines and Singapore are strong partners in ASEAN, where both serve as founding members. The Philippines will chair ASEAN in 2026, followed by Singapore in 2027. This back-to-back leadership gives both countries a unique opportunity to work closely in keeping ASEAN relevant in the region and beyond.
The Informal Consultations on the Philippines-Singapore Action Plan (IC-PSAP) is the primary bilateral mechanism by which the Philippines and Singapore review the various aspects of Philippine-Singapore relations. PSAP was established by former President Fidel V. Ramos and Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in 1998 as a consolidated framework for strengthened bilateral cooperation in various fields of interest beneficial to both sides. Since its creation, six (6) IC-PSAPs had been convened alternately in Manila and in Singapore to assess developments in bilateral relations and identify ways to further enhance cooperation in various areas. The 6th ICPSAP was hosted by the Philippines in Manila in April 2024. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in Singapore in the last quarter of 2025.
The Philippines and Singapore also convene annually the Defense Policy Dialogue (DPD). The DPD serves as a working-level bilateral dialogue platform that aims to exchange views on regional security developments and review the overall bilateral defense relations between the Philippines and Singapore. The 8th DPD was hosted by the Philippines in Bohol on 30 July 2025.
- Joint Communique on the Recruitment of Filipino Healthcare Workers, 2022
- Arrangement on Cooperation in the Counter-Terrorism Information Facility (CTIF), 2022
- MOU to collaborate on Business Opportunities in the Development of New Clark City, 2022
- MOU on Cooperation in Personal Data Protection, 2022
- MOU on Water Collaboration, 2022
- MOU between the Department of National Defense of the Republic of the Philippines (DND) and the Ministry of Defence of Singapore Concerning the Conduct of Education, Training Assistance and Support Activities on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, 2023
- MOU between the Philippines and Singapore on Defense Cooperation, 2024
- MOU on Carbon Credits Collaboration, 2024
- MOU on the Deployment of Filipino Healthcare Workers, 2024
- MOU on upgraded Air Services Agreement, 2024
Over the years, there have been several high-level exchanges of visits between the two countries. Notable visits include the Introductory Visit to the Philippines of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on 4 June 2025, the first one he has taken after the Singapore General Elections. In 2024, in celebration of the 55th year anniversary of diplomatic ties include the State Visit of Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to the Philippines on 15-17 August 2024; the official visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on 31 May 2024 who was the keynote speaker in the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue, the working visit of Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to the Philippines and Introductory Visit of Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner, both in April 2024.
The Philippines and Singapore defense and military officials regularly interact through meetings, training and exchanges. The Philippines headed the Counter-Terrorism Information Facility (CTIF) located at the Changi Naval Base in 2024.
At the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2023, the Philippines and Singapore signed the Arrangement between the Department of National Defense of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Defence of Singapore Concerning the Conduct of Education, Training Assistance and Support Activities on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). In July 2024, the Philippines and Singapore signed an agreement to deepen defense cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The Philippines’ economic partnership with Singapore is wide-ranging and growing—from infrastructure and smart cities to fintech and education. The 4th Philippine-Singapore Business and Investment Summit on 19 September 2024, participated in by the Philippines economic Ministers, opened doors to more quality investments, new business ventures, and stronger partnerships.
On 18 September 2024, the Memorandum of Understanding on the launch of the Philippine Innovation Hub (iHub) at the Singapore Management University (SMU)’s “The Greenhouse” was signed by National Development Company, Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, Reactor School; ACE SG, SMU and Murdoch University. The iHub aims to create a space for Philippine startups to connect with international partners and strengthen ties between Philippine and Singaporean innovation ecosystems in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable practices, and entrepreneurship.
On 29 April 2022, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (PhilChamSG) was registered with the Registry of Societies. The creation of the PhilChamSG is expected to boost trade and investment among the Philippines, Singapore, and ASEAN member states, with the chamber ready to provide information, facilitate connections, and empower joint entrepreneurial success for businesses.
Culinary diplomacy continues to gain ground. The Embassy’s Food Trek initiative, together with the growing presence of Filipino-owned and Filipino-themed restaurants in Singapore, has highlighted both the entrepreneurial spirit and rich flavors of the Philippines, and has allowed Singaporeans and the international community to experience the warmth of Filipino culture through food.
Filipino products are vibrantly represented in Singapore through widespread access to these, notably at major retailers like NTUC FairPrice and Lucky Plaza, as well as a growing presence of Filipino restaurants and food chains like Jollibee, Shakey’s, Potato Corner, Avocadoria, Andok’s Manok, JT’s Manukan and many others.
Tourism between our countries is also thriving. Singapore is the Philippines’ eighth top source of tourist arrivals in 2024 at 157,264 and the top ASEAN source of tourists to the Philippines. Filipinos continue to explore and contribute to Singapore’s tourism industry, ranking as its 6th largest visitor market.
Singapore remains one of the Philippines’ most significant trade and investment partners. In 2024, Singapore was the 8th largest trading partner of the Philippines, at US$8.73 billion in trade. It is our 7th export market (out of 201), and 8th import supplier (out of 212). Singapore was also the third highest source of Net Foreign Direct Investment in 2024 amounting to US$ 137.75 million, and remains as the second largest source of OFW remittances with US$ 2.45 billion.
An estimated 220,000 Filipinos live and work in Singapore, the tenth largest globally. They actively contribute to the economic development of both the Philippines and Singapore. Approximately 60% of Filipinos in Singapore are professionals and skilled workers, while the rest are employed as household service workers.
To better serve the vibrant Filipino Community in Singapore, the Philippine Embassy worked on the redevelopment of the Chancery at 20 Nassim Road. The new Chancery, a symbol of cooperation and lasting friendship with Singapore, is expected to be completed and ready for use by the last quarter of 2025.
In 2024, the Philippine Embassy launched the pioneering book on trailblazing Filipino entrepreneurs in Singapore entitled “Making a Mark on the Little Red Dot: Trailblazing Filipino Entrepreneurs in Singapore”. The book features the life-stories of twenty-five Filipinos who have not only excelled and succeeded as entrepreneurs in Singapore, but have literally blazed new trails in the field of entrepreneurship. The eBook version is available in this link: phinsg.com/MakingAMark.
In September 2024, the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, in collaboration with the Gardens by the Bay, unveiled the Gardens by the Bahay Kubo: A Fiesta of Orchids, the newest orchid display at the Cloud Forest. The vibrant exhibit, running from 16 September to January 2025, is set against the backdrop of the bahay kubo, the traditional Filipino stilt house, surrounded by stunning Philippine natural landscapes and cultural displays.
Cultural exchange is a cornerstone of Philippine-Singapore bilateral relations. Through the Embassy’s Art Trek program, now in its 17th year, Filipino artists have partnered with Singapore galleries to showcase Philippine visual arts in Singapore. The contributions of Filipino artists to Singapore’s bustling cultural scene have also been highlighted in performances by acclaimed artists such as National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab in 2023, Eraserheads in 2024, and Pinoy pop group SB19 in 2022 and 2025, among others, who have all performed in Singapore to great acclaim. Beyond visiting artists, Filipinos based in Singapore themselves contribute and add color to the city-state’s multicultural creative economy in various fields.
Filipino cuisine has gained wide acceptance in Singapore and continues to attract a good following.
The Embassy conducts quarterly Ugnayan townhall meetings with Filipino community leaders in Singapore. The Philippine and Singapore governments likewise mutually support the Philippine Bayanihan Center, which was established 24 years ago as a community space for Filipinos in Singapore.
Philippines-Singapore relations continue to flourish across political, economic, defense and socio-cultural domains, anchored by mutual respect, shared regional aspirations and a deepening strategic partnership. The celebration of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024 and the sustained momentum in 2025 reflect the maturity and dynamism of this bilateral relationship. High-level exchanges, robust institutional mechanisms such as the IC-PSAP and DPD and a growing portfolio of bilateral agreements underscore the commitment of both nations to collaborative progress.
Singapore remains a top partner in trade, investment and people-to-people ties, while the Filipino community in Singapore continues to serve as a vibrant bridge between our two nations. Cultural diplomacy, entrepreneurial success and tourism flows further enrich the bilateral narrative, affirming Singapore’s role as a trusted friend and reliable partner of the Philippines.
Looking ahead, the Philippines and Singapore are poised to expand cooperation in emerging areas such as the green economy, smart infrastructure, digital governance and biodiversity cooperation. The back-to-back ASEAN Chairships in 2026 and 2027 present a strategic opportunity for both countries to shape regional priorities and reinforce ASEAN’s relevance in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Enhanced defense collaboration, trade and investment support and humanitarian assistance frameworks signal a shared commitment to regional security and resilience.
With the redevelopment of the Philippine Chancery and the continued success of cultural initiatives like Art Trek and Food Trek, people-to-people links and public diplomacy will remain vital pillars of engagement. As both the Philippines and Singapore embrace innovation and inclusivity, their partnership is expected to grow even stronger, responsive to global challenges and rooted in shared values and aspirations. (END).
