Marcos asks Vietnam to support PH bid to host climate disaster fund

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday asked for Vietnam's support for the Philippines' bid to host the Loss and Damage Fund, which seeks to provide financial assistance to countries that are most vulnerable and and impacted by climate change.

"The offer to host the Board of the Fund is in line with the Philippines' long-standing engagement on discussions of this Fund for the past decades, and it is our belief that all States must contribute to the success of its institutional architecture," Marcos said during his bilateral meeting with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.

"We hope for the support of Viet Nam in our bid to host the Board of the Fund in the Philippines," Marcos added.

Earlier, Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga announced that the Philippines garnered a seat on the board of the climate disaster fund.

Loyzaga said the Philippines' next job would be "to work with the rest of the board to see how we can have a proper host for the board itself."

Meanwhile, Marcos is also hoping to work with Vietnam on projects aimed towards land-based and marine pollution abatement, given that both countries are vulnerable to climate change.

Marcos also mentioned that the Vietnamese community has grown in the Philippines.

"They have contributed greatly through our society, to our workforce and have become a very crucial part now of the areas where they live. They have form communities that, again, are much appreciated by the Filipinos," Marcos said.

"And, the relationship between the Philippines, the Vietnamese in the Philippines, I think serves as a very good example on what we can achieve. I would like to once again express my assurance that the Philippines will remain a steadfast partner to Vietnam, and the robust bond between our nations fills me with optimism for the future of our relationship," he added. — VDV, GMA Integrated News