Manila Bulletin
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Senators laud PBBM for bringing back investor confidence in PH during his first year in office
Philippines
National
Senators laud PBBM for bringing back investor confidence in PH during his first year in office
Senators laud PBBM for bringing back investor confidence in PH during his first year in office
Published Jun 28, 2023 02:48 am
Some senators thumbed up President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. efforts to bring investor confidence in the Philippines during his first year in Malacañang.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (RTVM screenshot)
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda commended the President for being “very hardworking” and for “reaching out to the world.” “I think that where there were some windows that might have been closed in the past, let’s say with the EU (European Union), he (Marcos) has reached out and we, in the Senate, have helped,” Legarda said in an interview. “Mag-iisang taon pa lang, maraming mga bintana na binuksan nang muli at nag reach out sa mundo na alam natin sana ay maisakatuparan ang mga pangako sa freetrade agreements, sa kabuhayan, para sa investments sa ating bansa (In just one year, there are many windows that have been opened again and he reached out to the world, which we know is important and beneficial in terms of fulfilling free trade agreements in livelihoods and for investments in our country),” the Senate Pro Tempore further said. Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go also noted that the time the President spent overseas during his first year in office was to market the Philippines to its economic partners and allies. “Understandably, the first few months of a new President is usually spent to introduce himself to world leaders especially foreign partners and allies,” Go said in a statement. “The President is our number one marketing agent who also manages efforts to bring in investments and opportunities for our people. Malaking bagay na siya mismo ang umikot (It’s a big deal that he himself goes out) to showcase the beauty and stability of our country,” Go pointed out. Go said he trusts that President Marcos will continue to advance national interests in the next few years of his term. “Basta palagi lang dapat unahin ang interes at kapakanan ng mga Pilipino at ng ating bansa (As long as the interest and welfare of the Filipinos and our country should always come first),” he said. Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay also observed the same thing: “So far, in a year's time, the Administration was able to face the many post-pandemic challenges, and was able to implement measures to revive the domestic economy.” “The goal is to push for more investment-driven strategies for long-term growth and development. And I believe that the strong investor confidence that the Philippines is reaping is brought by Malacanang's clarity and consistency in policies and investment direction,” Binay pointed out. She also commended the President for appointing tried-and-tested public servants as Cabinet officials who have in their portfolios a wealth of experience and knowledge. “(They) are equipped in implementing strategies in addressing poverty, labor, job creation, tourism, defense, trade, housing, and other issues,” she said of the President’s appointees. Marcos went twice to Indonesia: in May 2023, to attend the 42nd ASEAN Summit where he held separate bilateral meetings with the heads of state of Laos, East Timor and Vietnam; and in September 2022 where he met with President Joko Widodo and members of the local Filipino community in Jakarta. The Chief Executive also went to the United States in April to May of 2023 to met President Joe Biden at the White House. The presidential delegation also attended the US-ASEAN Business Council and the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Prior to this, Marcos also visited New York in September 2022 to attend the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he also met with Biden at the sidelines. The Philippine leader also met with members of the United States Chamber of Commerce and the US-ASEAN Business Council. Another highlight of Marcos’ trip was his visit to China in January of 2023 where he met with President Xi Jinping. His sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, joined him on this trip. Later in January 2023, Marcos attended the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. In February 2023, he visited Tokyo, Japan and met Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and held an audience with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace. He also went to the United Kingdom last May 2023 and attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, attended a reception at the Buckingham Palace. In 2022, Marcos visited Singapore twice: in September and in October, the latter having attended the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. He also went to Cambodia in November to attend the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and held bilateral meetings with Cambodian, Canadian, Vietnamese, Brunei and South Korea heads of state. Marcos also attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand on November 2022 and the ASEAN-European Union Commemorative Summit in Brussels, Belgium on December 2022.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (RTVM screenshot)
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda commended the President for being “very hardworking” and for “reaching out to the world.” “I think that where there were some windows that might have been closed in the past, let’s say with the EU (European Union), he (Marcos) has reached out and we, in the Senate, have helped,” Legarda said in an interview. “Mag-iisang taon pa lang, maraming mga bintana na binuksan nang muli at nag reach out sa mundo na alam natin sana ay maisakatuparan ang mga pangako sa freetrade agreements, sa kabuhayan, para sa investments sa ating bansa (In just one year, there are many windows that have been opened again and he reached out to the world, which we know is important and beneficial in terms of fulfilling free trade agreements in livelihoods and for investments in our country),” the Senate Pro Tempore further said. Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go also noted that the time the President spent overseas during his first year in office was to market the Philippines to its economic partners and allies. “Understandably, the first few months of a new President is usually spent to introduce himself to world leaders especially foreign partners and allies,” Go said in a statement. “The President is our number one marketing agent who also manages efforts to bring in investments and opportunities for our people. Malaking bagay na siya mismo ang umikot (It’s a big deal that he himself goes out) to showcase the beauty and stability of our country,” Go pointed out. Go said he trusts that President Marcos will continue to advance national interests in the next few years of his term. “Basta palagi lang dapat unahin ang interes at kapakanan ng mga Pilipino at ng ating bansa (As long as the interest and welfare of the Filipinos and our country should always come first),” he said. Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay also observed the same thing: “So far, in a year's time, the Administration was able to face the many post-pandemic challenges, and was able to implement measures to revive the domestic economy.” “The goal is to push for more investment-driven strategies for long-term growth and development. And I believe that the strong investor confidence that the Philippines is reaping is brought by Malacanang's clarity and consistency in policies and investment direction,” Binay pointed out. She also commended the President for appointing tried-and-tested public servants as Cabinet officials who have in their portfolios a wealth of experience and knowledge. “(They) are equipped in implementing strategies in addressing poverty, labor, job creation, tourism, defense, trade, housing, and other issues,” she said of the President’s appointees. Marcos went twice to Indonesia: in May 2023, to attend the 42nd ASEAN Summit where he held separate bilateral meetings with the heads of state of Laos, East Timor and Vietnam; and in September 2022 where he met with President Joko Widodo and members of the local Filipino community in Jakarta. The Chief Executive also went to the United States in April to May of 2023 to met President Joe Biden at the White House. The presidential delegation also attended the US-ASEAN Business Council and the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Prior to this, Marcos also visited New York in September 2022 to attend the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he also met with Biden at the sidelines. The Philippine leader also met with members of the United States Chamber of Commerce and the US-ASEAN Business Council. Another highlight of Marcos’ trip was his visit to China in January of 2023 where he met with President Xi Jinping. His sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, joined him on this trip. Later in January 2023, Marcos attended the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. In February 2023, he visited Tokyo, Japan and met Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and held an audience with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace. He also went to the United Kingdom last May 2023 and attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, attended a reception at the Buckingham Palace. In 2022, Marcos visited Singapore twice: in September and in October, the latter having attended the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. He also went to Cambodia in November to attend the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and held bilateral meetings with Cambodian, Canadian, Vietnamese, Brunei and South Korea heads of state. Marcos also attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand on November 2022 and the ASEAN-European Union Commemorative Summit in Brussels, Belgium on December 2022.