Presumptive president Bongbong Marcos hosted on Monday, May 23 a series of courtesy calls of diplomats coming from the United States (US), Japan, South Korea, and India in what was his most "presidential" day yet following the May 9 polls.
These diplomats were, in order of the meetings, the following: Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko, South Korean Ambassador Philippines Kim Inchul, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran, and US Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava.
Here are the main takeaways from each of these meetings as shared by Marcos himself during his subsequent press conference:
US Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava
"Syempre security concerns pinag--usapan namin (Of course we discussed security concerns), the return, the resigning or the extension of the VFA agreement and how it has to be redefined for the near future with the changing situation around the world, especially in our region," Marcos said of Variava.
The VFA stands for the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), specifically the Philippine-US VFA. The agreement has paved the way for joint exercises between the two countries' armies while in the Philippines.
Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko
"With the Japanese ambassador, we spoke about some of the ODA projects, JICA-ODA (Japan International Cooperation Agency-Official Development Assistance), that possibly we can pursue," Marcos said.
Referring to Kazuhiko, Marcos said, "Madami siyang ipinakita sa amin na possibilities (He showed us a lot of possibilities) in terms of infrastructure, in terms of transportation infrastructure, in terms of the usual horizontal infrastructure, and in terms of employment.
"Japan will like to see an increase of employment of Filipinos in Japan. We will pursue those opportunities further," the incoming Filipino leader added.
South Korean Ambassador Kim Inchul
According to Marcos, he and Inchul revived the two countries' discussions on the possible tapping of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).
"Napag-usapan din namin yung offer nila, at yung nakapunta na rito na mga expert na nuclear power para tignan ang Bataan Nuclear Power Plant para makita kung ano ba ang maaaring gawin (We also discussed their offer, regarding the nuclear power experts who came here to check and learn what we can do with the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant). Pwede pa bang ituloy or kailangan nang magtayo ng bago (Can we still use it or do we need to build a new plant), what are the things that we will have to do.
"Although they've come before we will now study their recommendations and their findings and we will see if we can still apply ," Marcos said.
Build during the administration of Marcos's late father, the nearly 50-year-old BNPP has never been fired. It has a price tag of over $2.3 billion.
Indian Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran
As for India, Marcos noted that the country is one of the largest manufacturers of generic medicines in the world. He wants the Philippines to replicate this.
"We know that India is one of the largest manufacturers of generic drugs. And I think I said,if we could go into partnership para magkaroon ng production dito sa Pilipinas (So that the Philippines will have its own production). Turuan niyo kami (Teach us). What is the manufacturing technology, what are the necessary things that have to be put in place," he said.
"Is there new legislation? Do we have to put up a new agency? Or we will have to do training? But in the end, to be able to provide at least the basic, yung mga basic na gamot na dito na nanggagaling (to have our production of basic medicines here)...we will get advice because may experience ang India (because India has experience)...Tignan natin kung babagay dito sa Pilipinas (Let's see if it will fit the Philippines)," Marcos said.