By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Prior to his departure for Washington, D.C. Sunday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivered a departure speech at the Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, where he outlined his agenda at his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
In his U.S. visit, which he touts as the “first by a head of state from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)” since Trump returned to office in January, President Marcos is set to engage in high-level talks with the U.S. leader seeking to enhance bilateral cooperation in key areas including economic growth, trade, and regional security.
“This visit builds on the active exchanges that we had since the [resumption] of the new Trump administration,” the Chief Executive said in his speech.
“During this visit, we would reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long-standing alliances as an instrument of peace and a catalyst of development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world,” the President declared.
Meanwhile, President Marcos has assigned Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III as the “designated caretakers” of government operations while he is on his official visit to the United States.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), led by Sec. Rex Gatchalian, was also instructed to ensure support for communities affected by Typhoon Crising, specifically the distribution of food packs.
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