President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday he would push for the country’s interests in his participation to the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits amid the current global and regional challenges.
Addressing the Filipino community in Laos ahead of the summit, President Marcos said he intends to advance the Philippines’ national interests such as maintaining peace and security in the region, strengthening the economy, and ensuring the well-being of every Filipino, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“The world and our region are facing challenging times. From conflicts in Europe [and] the Middle East, to global existential threats such as climate change and natural and man-made disasters, to transnational crime and economic downturns – all these, in one way or another, affect the lives and livelihoods of peace-loving and hardworking people like yourselves,” the President told the gathering of Filipinos in Vientiane.
In his scheduled attendance to the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit where he is expected to meet with potential investors and businessmen, the President said he would encourage them to explore the promising economic opportunities in the Philippines.
With the country being one of the most dynamic and best performing economies in Asia, President Marcos assured his administration will continue to work hard to sustain this upward trajectory.
He said the administration is doing all it can to bring a brighter future for all Filipinos so that no Filipino leaves to seek greener pastures abroad.
“Mga kababayan, ginagawa po namin ang lahat ng ito upang patuloy namin mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang bawat Pilipino. Nang sa gayon, ay hindi na kinakailangan ng sinuman na lumisan pa sa Pilipinas at makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa,” the President said.
“Gayunpaman, hinahangaan ko ang inyong tapang, tiyaga, at husay sa pagharap ng mga hamon bilang overseas Filipinos.”
In his inaugural visit to Laos, President Marcos expressed his gratitude to the Filipinos in the Southeast Asian country for their contributions to its development, as well as to the Philippine economy through their remittances.
The President enjoined the OFWs in Laos to continue being the ambassadors of goodwill, underscoring their importance in forging stronger people-to-people connections between the two nations. | PND
