Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday took a ride in an electronic jeepney in Makati City and afterwards lauded the government’s efforts to improve public transportation in the country.
The Canadian Prime Minister was accompanied by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general manager Thomas Orbos during the inspection of the e-jeepney in front of the Manila Peninsula Hotel.
‘‘Nakikita niya daw yung hangad natin na baguhin yung kabuhayan ng Pilipino. Nasabi niya na mahirap talaga ang transportasyon pero kailangan ng a lot of patience, a lot of understanding, and a lot of creativity," Tugade said.
Tugade later gave the Canadian leader a black shirt with the words ‘‘Go Electric Trudeau.’’
Trudeau arrived in Manila on Sunday for the 31 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit. He immediately made headlines after he was spotted ordering take-out food at a Jollibee branch in Tondo.
Another world leader, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also took time out to visit the International Rice Research Institute in Laguna province.
IRRI is known as "the world's premier research organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science."
The 57-year-old institution is home to many Indian scientists researching on better quality of rice seed and food scarcity issues, Modi's office told their 22.5 million followers on Twitter.
India's cabinet approved in July a proposal for IRRI to set up a research center in Varanasi, India.
"The Varanasi Centre would help increase farmers' income by enhancing and supporting rice productivity, reducing cost of production, value addition, diversification and enhancement of farmers' skills," the office of the Indian prime mister said.
"This will be the first Research Centre by IRRI outside its headquarters in the Philippines."
Modi, who is among the world leaders participating in the ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, is set to hold bilateral talks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
