House Speaker Martin Romualdez has explained why his presence was needed in the just-concluded World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

Romualdez, who represents Leyte's 1st district in Philippine Congress, was part of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s official delegation to the this year's WEF, which was attended by business bigwigs and international government leaders.

In an interview with Manila-based reporters Friday, Jan. 20, the Speaker was asked to respond to those criticizing his participation at the forum.

"For critics, it's very, very nice to hear their questions and querries, but the executive and the legislature are working and walking and marching in lockstep, we’re together," replied Romualdez, who is arguably Marcos's top ally in the Philippine legislature.

"When the government works its just not the exeuctive, we in the legislature are here to support it," he said.

Romualdez quickly transitioned to discussing the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) which supposedly mare waves among potential investors in Davos. Once enacted, it will become the country’s very own sovereign wealth fund.

"And in fact the Maharlika Fund which we passed in the House was the topic of discussion and interest.

"It is the vehicle that most countries—not just developed countries but also developing countries utilize their to attract ivestments for development for infrastructuve projects, along with the station of capital investments into these ventures," he said.

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Romualdez continued: "These will guarantee solid returns not just for the local investors but of course also for international investors from which we’ve already receive substantial interest and concern in terms of what would be the final makeup."

Romualdez is among the principal authors of the MIF.

Under the Speaker, the House has so far approved on third and final reading 19 out of the 31 priority measures of the Marcos administration, excluding the MIF.