United States (US) House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (leftmost) hands over a memento to Philippine House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday morning, April 19 (Philippine time). They held a meeting at the US Capitol in Washington DC (Speaker’s office)

Fruitful, engaging, emboldening.

These were some of the glowing words that Philippine House of Representatives officials used to described their meeting with their American counterparts early Wednesday morning, April 19 (Philippine time) at the United States (US) Capitol in Washington DC.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez led the visiting Philippine delegation, while US House Majority Leader Steve Scalise led the American home contingent. The particular meeting took place inside the office of Scalise, who is Louisiana's 1st congressional district representative.

"We, from the House of Representatives in Manila thank Majority Leader Scalise for his warm welcome, his kind words, and most importantly his commitment to further strengthening Philippine and US ties in various aspects," said Romualdez, who represents Leyte's 1st district.

"It was a fruitful and engaging meeting, to say the very least, and I feel that we are reaching new heights and levels of understanding. This solidifies the good working relationship between President [Ferdinand Bongbong] Marcos [Jr.] and President [Joe] Biden," added Romualdez, who is arguably Marcos' top ally in Philippine Congress.

Scalise's direct Philippine counterpart, House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe, shared the same appreciation of the meeting as Romualdez, saying, "It was an emboldening experience as a Filipino official to be on the same page with a high-ranking official in the US Capitol."

The Philippine delegation also held separate meetings with US Reps. Darrell Issa, Ami Bera, Mike Rogers (chairman of House Armed Services Committee), Christian Stewart; and Utah Attorney-General Sean David Reyes, a Filipino-American.

During the series of meetings, the Filipino and American solons discussed strategies on how to strengthen economic cooperation, defense and security engagements, as well as bilateral strategic dialogue between the two long-time allied nations.

"The majority leader [was] delighted to see the delegation. The Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has reintegrated relations [with the] US to provide stability, peace, and prosperity, especially in enhancing our capability for defense and stronger economic security," Romualdez said.

"Let’s make the two countries closer. We are here to gather support from US Congress to strengthen and improve our capabilities from external threats and national disasters," he added.

"Now the congressional delegation of the House leadership is engaging their counterparts in the US Congress. We are working all out with our strong message to come to the Philippines and invest there," he stressed.

Joining Romualdez in the meeting aside from Dalipe were House Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga's 3rd district, Navotas City lone district Rep. Tobias "Toby" Tiangco, Agusan del Norte 1st district Rep. Jose "Joboy" Aquino II, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel "Babe" del Gallego Romualdez, House Secretary General Reginald "Reggie" Velasco, and House Sergeant-at-Arms PMGEN. Napoleon Taas.

As a treaty ally, the Philippines has been receiving substantial defense assistance from the US in terms of training and defense items and equipment.

From 2002 to 2021, the Philippines received defense and security assistance at roughly US$1.8 billion for defense modernization, maritime security, counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics, anti-human trafficking, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear preparedness.

On the economic front, Washington remains an important and strategic trading and investment partner of Manila. This economic partnership remained strong despite challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2021, the US was the Philippines' 3rd largest trading partner, top export market, and 5th major import source, whereas the Philippines ranked 30th among the US' top trade partners. The US was also the Philippines' 5th largest source of foreign investments in 2021, notably in the IT-BPM, electronics, real estate, construction, and transportation and storage sectors.