Palace: No changes to Marcos' US trip amid Middle East tensions
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Malacañang said there are no changes so far to President Marcos’ scheduled working visit to the United States next week, despite escalating tensions in the Middle East and the recent death of a Filipina in Israel.
“Sa ngayon, wala pa pong pagbabago sa schedule (As of now, there are no changes to the schedule),” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Monday, March 2, when asked if the situation abroad would affect the President’s trip.
President Marcos himself earlier confirmed that a Filipina caregiver was killed in Israel after being hit by shrapnel while attempting to bring her elderly ward to a bomb shelter amid ongoing exchanges of attacks involving Israel, Iran, and the United States.
Marcos has assured that the government is closely monitoring the situation and extending assistance to affected Filipinos in the region.
The President is set to undertake a working visit to New York from March 8 to 11 to participate in engagements at the United Nations.
During the trip, the President is expected to attend the opening of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which runs from March 9 to 20 at the UN headquarters.
The CSW is the UN’s principal intergovernmental body dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, bringing together member states, civil society groups, and international organizations to assess progress and shape global standards on women’s rights.
Marcos is also expected to deliver a message at a special session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and hold meetings with UN officials as part of the Philippines’ participation in multilateral discussions.
Special sessions of the UNGA convene member states to address pressing global concerns and provide a platform for heads of state to articulate national positions and policy priorities.
Marcos first addressed the UN General Assembly in 2022, where he underscored climate action, food security, and adherence to international law, and is expected to continue articulating the Philippines’ positions on key global issues during his upcoming visit.