President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. defended his 'bloated' Philippines delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
"We're trying to be complete. When is the next chance to get to speak with CEOs of top Fortune 100 companies in the period of today?" Marcos told reporters on Friday.
"So whoever we get to talk to, kailangan natin ng Secretary na puwede niyang sagutin, puwede niyang kausapin. May tao doon na nakakalaam so that if there is something that needs to be done immediately," he added.
[So whoever we get to talk to, the specific secretary must be there to answer questions, hold the conversation. There's a person who needs to know so that if there is something that needs to be done immediately.]
Earlier this week, the Palace said seven business tycoons have joined Marcos Jr., his wife First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, their son Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, and 16 other Cabinet members in the international forum at Davos, Switzerland last Jan. 16 to 20.
Among the seven business tycoons are Sabin Aboitiz of the Aboitiz Group, Kevin Andrew Tan of the Alliance Global, Jaime Zobel de Ayala of the Ayala Group, and Lance Gokongwei of the JG Summit Holdings.
Also part of the official delegation are Ramon Ang of the San Miguel Corp., Teresita Sy-Coson of SM Investments, and Enrique Razon of the International Container Terminal.
They were all included in the list of wealthiest Filipinos in 2022 by Forbes.
Other government leaders who went were House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, former president and current Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Sen. Mark Villar, Ilocos Norte First District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos III, TINGOG Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
"The delegation was large but half of it was private. They came here on their own," the President explained.
In a statement, Romualdez said WEF attendees were actually impressed with the delegation, adding that it showed a 'united front to the entire world.'
“It really impressed them, that was not lost in Davos. People took notice of it and said that the Philippines is back, we are open for business," the House Speaker said in an interview.
“We demonstrate to WEF and to the world that the President is joined by his economic managers and the executive, alongside the leaders from legislature, that we are working and marching in lockstep with him,” Romualdez added.
Diokno, meanwhile, lauded the country's business leaders who showed support for Marcos' attendance in the forum.
“The active and enthusiastic participation of the Philippine business leaders in the WEF activities was truly impressive,” he said.
