President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and US President Joe Biden will discuss many salient topics of mutual interest to their countries when they meet in Washington next week.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate)
In an interview, Marcos said he and Biden will talk about the existing agreements between the Philippines and United States such as their Mutual Defense Treaty and possible new pacts on climate change, economy, tourism, and healthcare.
"Pag-uusapan namin ni President Biden kung paano pa tayo patuloy na magtulungan. And it covers so many subjects. Siyempre napag-uusapan yung military dahil sa EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) pero ang katotohonan, e hindi lamang yun kung hindi pati nga sa ekonomiya, pati nga sa tourism, pati nga sa healthcare (President Biden and I will discuss how we would continue to help each other. And it covers so many subjects. Of course, the military issues are being brought up because of EDCA but the truth is, it is not just about the military but about the economy, tourism, and healthcare)," Marcos said on Monday, April 24, during a radio interview.
"There are many many things we will talk about," Marcos added.
The President further said that they will discuss again the treaty agreements between the Philippines and America.
He stressed that there is a need for the countries' treaty agreement to evolve, especially amid the prevailing dynamics in the region.
"We have to evolve it, it has to evolve dahil nag-e-evolve din, ina-adjust adjust din natin 'yan dahil meron din talagang evolution, may nagbabago din sa sitwasyon na hinaharap natin dito sa South China Sea sa gitna ng mga pangyayari sa Taiwan, sa North Korea (because it is evolving, we need to adjust it because there are evolution here, the situation we are facing in the South China Sea, the situation in Taiwan, North Korea are evolving)," Marcos said.
He said he would also bring up with Biden how they can lessen the "rhetoric" between countries when an incident arises concerning regional issues.
"Kung ano yung mga pwede nating gawin upang bawasan naman yung rhetoric dahil ngayon medyo mabibigat na usapan medyo nagkakabitawan ng mga maaanghang na salita na e, siyempre inaalala natin 'yan (What we can do to lessen the rhetoric because of the heated exchanges happening now, of course we are also concerned about that)," Marcos said.
Marcos shared that he will be having a packed schedule during his working visit in Washington.
Aside from his meeting with Biden, he will also task other Cabinet members to meet with counterparts to forge partnerships with the US.
Marcos also bared that he will be appealing for "many assistance" packages from the US, especially on climate change.
"And the United States has always been our partner in terms of the special relationship between the Philippines and the United States, yun ang pag-uusapan natin and siyempre marami tayong hihilingin na tulong dahil tayong lahat naman ay nagre-recover sa pandemya at kung ano yung mga ganun din kagaya ng mga ibang biyahe na ginawa ko kung ano pa ang mga partnership na pwedeng buuin, ano bang mga bagong teknolohiya na baka pwedeng dalhin dito sa Pilipinas na magagamit natin (that's what we are going to talk about and of course we will be asking for many assistance because all of us are still recovering deom the pandemic and like with my other foreign trips, we would explore new partnerships and new technologies we can bring to the country)," Marcos said.
The chief executive said the trip will also be an opportunity for the country to build its network and secure new partnerships.
Marcos will be in Washington, D.C. from April 30 to May 4. It will be his second visit to the country since assuming the presidency.