The Philippines is "open for business" under its new and popular leader.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez made this declaration Saturday, Nov. 12 during a breakfast meeting between World Economic Forum (WEF) Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab and Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
Romualdez was instrumental in arranging the meeting amid the busy schedule of President Marcos in the ongoing 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related summits in Cambodia.
“It might be a good time to herald to the whole world that the Philippines, with a very new and very popular leader, and with very competent and experienced economic managers is open for business,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez, who represents Leyte's 1st district in the Philippine House of Representatives, is among the top local officials who are accompanying Marcos in the ongoing summit.
The meeting between Marcos and Schwab took place at Hyatt Regency Hotel in the Cambodian capital city of Phnom Penh.
Tackled during the meeting was the Philippine leader's possible attendance at the WEF annual meeting to be held in Davos, Switzerland in January 2023.
Speaking of Marcos's popularity, Schwab couldn't help but comment that the Filipino's overwhelming mandate during the last local elections, wherein he received over 60 percent of the votes, would turn heads at Davos.
“Many people would be envious of that,” the WEF official said.