President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos wasted no time in his efforts to put the country again on the investments map of the world during his recent trip to the United States, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said Sunday.
“At a time when nations struggle to bounce back from the ill effects of the pandemic on economies, our President hit the ground running and worked almost round the clock to bring home much-needed investments,” said the Leyte solon, Romualdez, for his part, vowed that the lower chamber would answer the call of the Marcos administration if it needed laws enacted regarding the country’s bilateral trade and investment agreements with the US and Japan.
“If the President needs any piece of legislation to materialize the objectives of these bilateral trade and investment agreements, we will answer the call,” he pointed out.
“We at the House of Representatives will help in making these investment pledges come to fruition,” he said.
The legislator likewise said that there is pending legislation to facilitate better the influx of foreign investments into the country that is also in line with the Marcos administration’s legislative agenda.
These include the eCommerce Bill, the National Government Rightsizing Program, the eGovernance Act, amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, and amendments to the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, among others.
Romualdez, with other Cabinet members, joined the President on his visit to the US to participate in the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York City. He held formal and informal bilateral meetings with leaders of key Philippine allies, such as the US and Japan.
Marcos left for New York City last 18 September to attend the UNGA, where he met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reaffirm the integral partnership between the Philippines and the UN since the Philippines is a founding member of the UN.
He returned on Sunday morning.
The Chief Executive addressed worldwide investors, traders, and other visitors on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, where he was asked to ring the closing bell.
The Speaker disclosed that Marcos urged them to come to the Philippines and tap its potential as one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.
Marcos’ recent state visits to Indonesia and Singapore brought in over $14 billion in investment pledges.