President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is expected to tackle his administration’s priorities in his speech at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

In a pre-departure press briefing held on Thursday, Sept. 15, Assistant Secretary for the Office of the United Nations and International Kira Christianne Danganan-Azucena said Marcos’ speech would cover climate change, the rule of law, and food security.

She said Marcos is the second speaker in the UN's high-level general debate on Sept. 20, Tuesday, at 3 pm New York time.

The theme of this year’s general debate is 'A Watershed Moments: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges’, according to Azucena.

“We can expect the president’s statement to identify these challenges and solutions to address them, the role of the United Nations, and how the Philippines contribute to these efforts,” she added.

Azucena said Marcos will be meeting heads of state and some UN key officials.

“The president’s participation in the opening of the 77th UNGA is important because it marks his first engagement with the United Nations which the Philippines recognizes as the world’s important multilateral organization,” she said.

The President will also discuss economic recovery, the main policy in his governance, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in the media briefing.

“We are going to expect that his speech will be relating to how the Philippines will be recovering from this pandemic and where he intends to take this, and how he will do so in cooperation with other states,” she said.

Marcos is set will fly to the United States on Sunday, Sept. 18, and he will return to the country on Sept. 24, the foreign affairs department confirmed.

The upcoming US visit is Marcos' third overseas trip following his state visits to Singapore and Indonesia.

The 77th UNGA will be held from Sept. 13 to 27 in New York, USA. The event is an opportunity for world leaders to address shared problems and develop a collective solution.