President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOU) with Brunei Darussalam on tourism cooperation in his two-day state visit to the Sultanate.

In his departure speech on Tuesday, President Marcos said the MOU is a way to attract more tourists to the country, noting how tourism continues to be an “important economic engine” for growth and development, employing millions of Filipinos.

“As mentioned in my State of the Nation Address last year, tourism continues to be an important economic engine of our growth, employing at least five million of our kababayans,” the President said.

“During this trip to Brunei, we will sign the Philippines-Brunei Darussalam MOU on Tourism Cooperation, and through this MOU, we hope to entice and attract Bruneian tourists to explore the Philippines. Brunei, despite having a relatively small population, it is the quality of tourists and not the quantity that counts,” he stated.

The President will also immerse business communities in the Sultanate, and highlight the Philippines as one of the “fastest-growing economies in Asia” and the “best choice for investments.’

“I look forward to securing investments that will generate more jobs, contribute to poverty alleviation, and accelerate the economic transformation of our country,” he pointed out.

He said he will bring with him on his trip the goal of strengthening bilateral cooperations with Brunei.

“Sa aking biyahe patungong Brunei, babaunin ko ang aking tungkulin at pangako na lalo pang palakasin ang ating pagkakaibigan at pagtutulungan ng ating bansa sa ibang bansa kagaya ng Brunei Darussalam,” the President stated, adding that the partnership with Brunei will further boost political, economic, and people-to-people ties.

The Chief Executive’s state visit is upon the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. President Marcos is also set to undertake a working visit in Singapore after Brunei. | PND