ALMOST 11 months now since assuming the highest post in the land, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. proved he isn’t trip wary. In fact, we can say, he is on travel mode.
Of course, part of his delegation, almost always, are his alter egos, including Secretary of Trade and Industry Alfredo Pascual as the main man since most of the President’s trips are trade and investment-related.
The President has already been to 13 countries, the most recent of which was his second visit to Indonesia for the 42nd ASEAN Summit. That was just a couple of days after the US and UK trips. As we all know, his first overseas trip as our head of state was in Indonesia in September 2022, upon the invitation of President Joko Widodo.
Now, as space will allow, let me share this. For the President, with his desire to strengthen bilateral relationship on the economic, political, socio-cultural and military aspects, it becomes necessary that he touches base with the leaders of the countries essential to the advancement of our national interests.
Supply of coal for the coal-powered plants has been assured by Widodo. For some time, there was a gap in the supply of coal from Indonesia and that worries the Philippine leader. Now, no more.
Widodo agreed also to help our fishery sector to solve the issue of galunggong importation. PBBM has been obsessed with it considering that the Philippines, as an archipelago, should be abundant with the specie.
From Japan, Marcos secured investment pledges amounting to P715 billion, which would create 24,000 jobs for Filipino workers. Aside from this, Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida committed the infra loan for the North-South Commuter Railway Project and its extension amounting to P165 billion, which China reneged on. For the AFP, they will grant us UH-IJ Huey multi-role helicopters to boost our limited military capabilities.
After the US trip, Trade Secretary Fred Pascual reported that the Philippines secured P71.5 billion worth of investment pledges from American firms. This will generate close to 7,000 jobs for our Juan and Juana de la Cruzes. That adds to the potential employment from Japanese corporations, where the figures would reach over 30,000 heads that will be given the opportunity, the chance to have a good-paying job.
In their meeting with various American companies, Pascual cited the importance of enhancing bilateral relations with other countries, neighbors included, as it plays an important role in pursuing economic recovery and post-pandemic expansion of various businesses in our land.
On one-on-one meetings, Pascual shared that Moderna, who supplied part of our Covid -19 vaccines, announced plans to put up an enterprise solutions hub that will provide business services across the Asia Pacific Region. Great.
Pascual shared, too, the news that Maxeon Solar Technologies, a global leader in solar innovation, plans to bring its latest solar technology, Max 7, to the Philippines. With that plan, the most advanced solar cells in the world will soon be Philippine-made. Not for long, the cheap Xi Jinping junk will be gone for good.
Nuscale and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. engaged in small and micro modular reactor tech, Xero Motorcycles that produces high-end electric motorcycles and Atento, which is involved in BPO, will hire about 1,000 workers.
Another reputable firm, Optum, the biggest healthcare provider in the US, will invest P800 million to set up a health info management services, generating about 1,500 jobs in Mindanao. On the other hand, Analog Devices will hire a thousand engineers for a research and development center that they will set up.
For military assistance, among others, the US announced its transfer of three C-130 aircraft and two coastal patrol vessels. More than that, President Biden assured counter offensive action in case the Philippines is attacked by China, or by whoever, in accordance with our MDT.
Well, undoubtedly, these are sweet fruits of the travel tree.
