Following his brief visit to the United States, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced he had secured millions in government pledges and billions in investment pledges from business leaders on July 23.
“We welcome the US government’s pledge of an additional $15 million for private sector development under the Luzon Economic Corridor initiative and an additional $48 million in foreign-assisted projects,” Marcos said in his arrival statement, adding that his administration will be working in coordination with the US Department of State (foreign ministry) and Congress for the implementation of the said programs.
In addition, after meeting with business leaders and top executives in global investment, healthcare, infrastructure, and semiconductor supply chains in America, he left with over $21 billion in investment pledges.
“We return to the Philippines with over $21 billion in investment pledges that has the potential to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Filipinos within our country,” the President revealed.
He also reaffirmed America’s commitment to strengthening its ties with the Philippines, and looked into crucial regional and international security issues during discussions with US President Donald Trump and other key government officials such as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
“In my meeting with the Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, I underscored the critical importance of the Philippines-United States alliance in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific region,” Marcos shared.
“As in our previous meeting in Manila last March, he reiterated the importance of deepening defense cooperation … to establish deterrents in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.
Moreover, the President thanked the US government and its people for extending aid to response efforts in 18 Filipino communities affected by the southwest monsoon. He also acknowledged their warm hospitality during his three-day visit in Washington D.C.
Next year, he will in turn be hosting Trump during the Philippine’s Chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. The event coincides with the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Philippines-United States diplomatic relations and 75 years of the mutual defense treaty.
