Marcos to raise food, energy security during APEC Summit

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will raise food and energy security during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Thailand next week.

According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Eric Tamayo on Monday, the global economic situation has disrupted many lives and livelihoods.

"It is important for us to be able to highlight the fact that economies need to address, to future-proof the region in responding to these disruptions, be it coming from the pandemic and other disruptions around the globe. It is focused on the drivers of the economy, particularly on ensuring the flow and the operations of various supply chains from the globe," Tamayo said.

"The President will be calling for... calling the attention to the need to ensure food security, energy security, and also the robust response of economies to the challenge of climate change  adaptation and mitigation," he added.

Aside from food and energy security, Tamayo said the robust response of economies to the climate change issue would also be raised during the APEC Summit.

Further, the critical role of essential workers, particularly those in the maritime sector, would also be tackled during the Summit as this is among the key initiatives of the Philippines.

Asked if the Russia-Ukraine conflict would be raised, Tamayo said the Philippine government has already made pronouncements in appropriate forums regarding the country's stand on the issue.

"And we will focus our efforts in APEC in economic issues, that impact on the region. And it is certainly something that a political issue that we have made pronouncements on in other platforms and not necessarily," Tamayo said.

Marcos will join fellow heads of state for the annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok on November 16 to 19.

He will also attend other related summits where he is expected to discuss plans and priorities of the Philippines in terms of trade, investment and post-pandemic economic recovery.

Marcos will also have at least six bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the APEC Summit, Tamayo said. —KG, GMA Integrated News