Marcos seeks to provide cheaper meds for Pinoys amid India visit

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday said he wants his state visit to India to result in cheaper medicines for Filipinos, among others. 

“I want this visit to bring concrete benefits for the Filipino people, such as more affordable medicine and greater connectivity and food security,” Marcos said in his departure speech. 

“It is incumbent upon us, now more than ever, to maximize the opportunities in trade and investment with the world’s fourth largest economy,” he added.

The country’s caretakers while the President is abroad are Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrad Estrella III, and Education Secretary Sonny Angara. 

Marcos said he brings with him some Cabinet secretaries who will make sure that his vision of “a close strategic relationship with India is turned into a reality as quickly as possible as we make our commitments at the highest levels of government and business.” 

According to the President, there is much potential for cooperation with India that will mutually benefit the two countries’ citizens. 

“We intend to explore these potentials by charting a plan of cooperation across a broad spectrum of shared interests: from defense, trade, and investment, to health and pharmaceuticals, connectivity, agriculture, tourism, and many others,” he said. 

Upon his arrival in New Delhi, Marcos will proceed to a meet and greet with the Filipino community. 

Aside from meeting Indian leaders, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Marcos will also meet with India’s business sector. 

He said a lot of multinational Indian firms have already operated in the country.—AOL, GMA Integrated News