President Marcos will not attend the 2024 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Peru next week because he wants to prioritize the government’s response to recent calamities, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said on Thursday, Nov. 7.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (MB file photo)
Instead, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Acting Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque will represent him in the international event.
“The designation of Sec. Roque confirms that the President is not attending (APEC),” PCO Secretary Cesar Chavez said, referring to Roque’s designation as Special Envoy of the President to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Week.
The official shared that Marcos decided to stay in the country because he wants to “prioritize domestic concerns, including government responses to calamities.”
The APEC Leaders' Week is scheduled on November 10 to 16 in Lima, Peru.
APEC 2024 will focus on consolidating a new approach to the group’s economic cooperation agenda amid the challenges that exist today.
Leaders are expected to discuss trade and investments, innovations and digitalization, and sustainable growth.
The regional economic forum was established in 1989 to leverage the growing economy of the Asia-Pacific region to create prosperity for its people.