Romualdez: Filipinos to benefit from Marcos-Biden meeting

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s upcoming visit to the United States will be beneficial to the country, particularly in terms of security, investment opportunities, and job creation, Speaker Martin Romualdez said Thursday.
 
Marcos will have a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on May 1.
 
“The meeting between President Marcos and US President Biden will further reinforce the robust bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United States," Romualdez said in a statement.
 
“Security and stability are indispensable ingredients for continued economic growth and prosperity. An improved iron-clad alliance between the two countries would greatly contribute to the realization of President Marcos’ vision for sustained economic growth that would provide jobs and livelihood for the Filipinos,” he added.
 
The US State Department earlier said that during Marcos' visit, "President Biden will reaffirm the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines, and the leaders will discuss efforts to strengthen the longstanding U.S.-Philippines alliance.”
 
Marcos said he would seek a review and assessment of the commitments under the 70-year Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries because the alliance must evolve to address the emerging geopolitical realities, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
 
Romualdez, along with other Filipino lawmakers, is currently in the US for meetings with his American counterparts to discuss ways of further strengthening defense and security cooperation as well as the economic partnership between the Philippines and the US.
 
"Now, the congressional delegation of the House leadership is engaging their counterparts in the US Congress. We are working on sending our strong message to come to the Philippines and invest there," Romualdez said.
 
“In addition to increased investments, our economy would profit from the expected assistance the US can provide us in combating the effects of climate change. This would help in our efforts not only to improve food security but also in mitigating the effects of global warming,” he added. —VBL, GMA Integrated News