"The Philippines has a lot to offer." House Speaker Martin Romualdez proudly made this statement Wednesday, May 3 following an announcement that some 75,000 Filipino seafarers were going to be hired by a United States (US) firm in the next three to four years. “The Philippines has a lot to offer foreign investors, including a young and growing workforce, a strategic location, and a favorable business environment," said Romualdez, who is accompanying President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in his ongoing US visit. "I am confident that Pres. Marcos, Jr. will continue to attract more foreign investment to our country, which will help us achieve our goal of inclusive growth,” added the Leyte 1st district congressman. In one of Marcos' many meetings in the US since arriving there over the weekend, the president and CEO of Carnival Corp. told him that his group of companies was set to hire some 75,000 Filipino seafarers in the next three to four years. John Padgett, who also represents Carnival Cruise Line, Holland American Airlines and Seaborn, praised Filipino workers for their hospitality and competitiveness in the global workforce. Marcos also met with officials of business process outsourcing (BPO) firm Atento, which has decided to set up its first call center in the Philippines at the Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao district of Iloilo City. The President thanked Atento President Fili Ledezma Soto and Chief Delivery Officer Josh Ashby and assured them that they made the right decision as “Filipinos speak and write the best English". Romualdez, for his part, said: “It is heartening to note that the President’s mission to the US has scored significant gains that would not only spur further economic growth but more importantly, result in direct benefits for thousands of Filipino workers in terms of job created."