THE Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) lauded the success and benefits reaped from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s six-day working visit to the United States after receiving full support and gestures of commitment from the United States government, business sectors and overseas Filipino workers.
In Marcos’ last engagement with the Asia Society, he delivered a key message that summed up what the country wants to tell the world.
“The time to invest in the Philippines is no longer just some time in the future. It is now. We in the Philippine delegation are one in our assessment that the work done in this trip serves as a good start for opportunities identified to be made into programs and projects to benefit the Philippines and our countrymen. And so the work continues, but I am happy to report that we have had a very good and strong start to our efforts,” he said.
Brimming with enthusiasm, Marcos shared the good news upon his arrival in Manila on September 25 from his participation in the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and working visit to the US.
“There will be, I believe, good news to share in the next few months particularly in terms of their (US companies) plans to expand and further broaden their investment footprint in our country. Our discussion with the US business community affirms the optimism with which international investors view the Philippines today,” the President said.
PSAC lead convenor and Aboitiz Group CEO Sabin Aboitiz joined Marcos and addressed global investors and traders at the New York Stock Exchange. He was also part of the Philippine business delegation who met with several senior executives from various American firms. He also joined the second roundtable dialogue with the chief executive officers in the Digital Infrastructure industry in New York, USA last week.
The Philippine delegation hosted four CEO roundtable discussions that dealt with key economic sectors such as IT-BPM, digital infrastructure, global brands particularly garments and apparel, and industry and infrastructure.
“This trip was a resounding success. We have a true statesman in President Marcos. He represented our country with pride, diplomacy, professionalism, and an honest intention to strengthen our partnership with the US and secure their commitment to transform the lives of all Filipinos by directly investing in our economy. He came here on a mission for our people — we all did — and that mission was accomplished. We felt the love from the Americans here, and Filipinos will feel it at home and around the world,” Aboitiz said.
Marcos, together with some of his Cabinet members and the Philippine business delegation, met with a number of business leaders from different US companies who committed to be a part of the Philippines’ development and economic growth.
Both the US and the Philippines will be working together in addressing some of the country’s key economic challenges, particularly climate change, food security, and energy security, just to name a few.
The successful US trip will further reinvigorate PSAC as they get back to work and address the tasks ahead with optimism and sheer determination.
Marcos had earlier expressed his satisfaction in what they have accomplished in just a short period of time. “Overall, I can say that I consider the trip a success, and overall I am satisfied with the work that we have done. We did what we set out to do and talked to everyone we needed to talk to. And that kind of response is, of course, very gratifying.”
The President was accompanied by First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, his son House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Representative Sandro Marcos, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Department of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual.
Some members of PSAC and other business leaders also joined the Philippine delegation, namely, International Container Terminal Services Inc. Chairman and President Enrique Razon; Metro Pacific Corp. Chairman and President Manuel V. Pangilinan; San Miguel Corp. Chairman, President and CEO Ramon Ang; Ayala Corp. Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala; JG Summit Holdings Inc. President and CEO Lance Gokongwei; Magsaysay Group President and CEO Doris Ho; and SM Prime Holdings Director Hans Sy, among others. (PR)