As the world rapidly grows more complex due to developing technologies, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reminded on Monday how this advancement came with the demand to be more agile and responsible.
President Marcos led the Philippine Strategic Trade Management (STM) Summit 2024 in Taguig, stating that the summit does not just concern trade management but is also about being responsible players, preventing destruction caused by progress.
“This summit is not merely about managing trade; it is also about mitigating risks, promoting stability and confidence in our regulatory regimes, and ensuring that the tools of our progress do not become weapons of our destruction,” the President said.
President Marcos highlighted his support for the Strategic Trade Management Act during his time in the Senate, believing STM is more than just a bureaucratic process.
“During my term in the Senate, I supported the Strategic Trade Management Act because it was my belief and it continues to be my belief—that strategic trade management is more than just a bureaucratic exercise,” he said.
“It is about upholding the rule of law, protecting our people, and contributing to global peace and security,” he added.
The President underlined the Philippines’ STM advancement as being on the right track, as the country’s ranking in the latest Peddling Peril Index improved, while acknowledging that there is much more work to be done.
Furthermore, the President vowed to double the country’s commitment to peace and stability, which the Philippines has demonstrated as the first Asian republic that stood for principles over power and as one of the original framers of the UN Charter.
“Today, as we pursue a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2027-2028, we are doubling down on that same commitment,” President Marcos said.
On the other hand, the President acknowledged the capability of STM to regulate dual-use goods and technologies, allowing the prevention of misuse while encouraging lawful trade beneficial to all.
He said the rapid pace of technological advancement should be matched with a dynamic, adaptable, and forward-thinking regulation strategy, and that stakeholders must collaborate to create a robust system that is versatile, equitable, and resilient.
“By leveraging our collective strengths, we can advance regional initiatives that ensure supply chain security, counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and insurgency, and create an environment where trade can thrive,” the President said.
Before concluding his speech, President Marcos committed to working towards a more competitive region in the future through the continuous improvement of industry standards, modernization of regulations, and further strengthening of linkages through different trade and investment frameworks like ASEAN, APEC, RCEP, and IPEF.
“Ladies and gentlemen, one country cannot do this alone. Each of us, no matter the race, the color, or belief has a clear stake in building a more secure and prosperous world,” the President said in closing.
|PND
