President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Sunday (Monday, PH time) met with the Filipino community in New Jersey, USA, and urged them to open businesses and buy properties in the country.
In his speech before the Filipinos at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Marcos acknowledged the sacrifices of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as well as their contribution to the economic recovery of the country.
"Kahit nasa malayo kami ay pinapanood namin kayo, pumuputok po ang puso namin ‘pag nakita namin ang inyong ginagawa na itinataas at pinapatingkad ang pangalan ng Pilipinas sa buong mundo," he said.
[We are watching all of you from afar and our hearts are overjoyed when we see what you do to promote the Philippines to the whole world.]
He also encouraged Filipinos abroad to invest in the country as this will create more jobs and opportunities for Filipinos back home.
"All of you are enjoined to continue investing in the Philippines. Do not stop buying condominium units and other real estate back home. Invest and open businesses, maliit, malaki, sari-sari store, malaking kompanya, lahat puwede. Makakatulong lahat ‘yun," Marcos added.
[Invest and open businesses whether small, big or a sari-sari store or a big company. All of those will help.]
"This will all contribute to creating much-needed jobs and build a better life for all our people."
Likewise, the Chief Executive asked OFWs, whom he called 'special envoys,' to join hands in promoting tourism and to visit back home to show the beauty of the country.
"Lahat kayo including the caregivers, housekeepers, babysitters, and others in the informal sector can do just as much as our diplomats could do by inviting your employers to visit the Philippines not just to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of our country and our people but also to explore possible trade investment opportunities there," he said.
“All of you are encouraged to bring home your friends to allow them to experience for themselves why the Philippines has become one of the top tourism destinations in Asia that offers the best islands, the most amazing beaches, and stunning landscapes that cannot be found, cannot be bettered anywhere in the world. Most importantly introduce them to the grace, the kindness, the hospitality, and the graciousness of all Filipinos,” Marcos added.
Marcos is currently on a working visit to New York to participate in the United Nations 77th General Assembly and meet with world leaders and US top businesses, with the aim of bringing investments to the Philippines and creating partnerships with other countries.
"In the coming days, so besides the meetings with the political leadership, it will also be for potential investors, other business leaders dahil gusto natin para paahunin nga natin, para pasiglahin natin ang ekonomiya na makapag-invest at ‘pag nag-invest mayroong bagong negosyo. Kapag may bagong negosyo, may trabaho,” he said.
[In the coming days, besides the meetings with the political leadership, it will also be for potential investors, and other business leaders because we really want to revive our economy and court investors. Because investments mean new businesses, and if there are new businesses then there are jobs.]
