House Speaker Martin Romualdez delivers his message during the plenary session of the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly at Fairmont Hotel in Jakarta Indonesia on Monday, Aug 7.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez highlighted on Monday, Aug. 7 before fellow high-ranking parliamentarians in the region the good working relationship between Philippine Congress and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. 

Romualdez is in Jakarta, Indonesia on the occasion of the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly. 

In his statement at the plenary session of the event, Romualdez discussed the crucial role of the partnership between Congress and the Marcos administration in achieving the goals of economic prosperity and job creation.  

“Following the lead of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., we have adopted a medium-term fiscal strategy that aims to support economic recovery while ensuring fiscal sustainability,” Romualdez said. 

“Together with the executive, we have focused on creating more job opportunities for Filipinos and improving their employability. Productivity-enhancing investments have been promoted while exercising prudence in fiscal management,” added President Marcos' top ally in Philippine legislature. 

Marcos won the Philippine presidency in May 2022 via rare majority vote. 

Romualdez also urged fellow ASEAN lawmakers to use the occasion as a platform not only for dialogue but, more importantly, to share best practices among member parliaments. 

He said the country’s leaders adopted such a policy, recognizing that the Covid-19"pandemic has exacerbated income insecurity, especially for those without any access to social protection, and those working in the informal economy. 

“Retooling and re-skilling to sharpen the competence of our job seekers has been our priority, together with the development of sustainable technologies to create more green jobs,” Romualdez said. 

Such sharing of best practices among ASEAN parliaments, according to Romualdez, will help build regional solidarity and cooperation which is vital to help build back a more resilient and sustainable ASEAN community. 

In addition, Romualdez said AIPA represents an effective platform for dialogue on inter-parliamentary concerns and diplomacy based on equal partnership, mutual respect, and mutual benefit.