By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Concluding his jam-packed itinerary for a 3-day state visit to fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member state Cambodia, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines at 2:49 p.m. aboard PR 001 at Villamor Air Base on Tuesday.
In his arrival statement, the Chief Executive detailed the fruits of his engagements with top Cambodian officials and business leaders, which he cites as a showcase of both countries’ commitment towards bolstering the development of the ASEAN region.
The President earlier conveyed his interest towards fortifying economic ties at the CEO B2B Networking Roundtable in Phnom Penh, with Marcos encouraging entrepreneurs from both nations to sustain the momentum of bilateral trade between the two ASEAN member states.
President Marcos outlined the partnerships forged during the roundtable talks: “Our discussion resulted in strategic partnerships and the signing of five business agreements. They are in the sectors of mutual interest, such as aviation, logistics, women-led MSMEs, exploration and market opportunities for Philippine exports, products and services, and institutional partnerships for business associations.”
The Chief Executive also took note of the three key agreements on police cooperation, higher education, and air connectivity inked by both countries on Monday.
On improved security
Marcos, however, stressed the need to enhance security and ramp up collective efforts in combating transnational crime, expressing concern at the rise of online scam hubs that victimize migrant workers.
The President said in his arrival statement, “To this regard, we affirm our determination to fight criminal elements that misuse technology and exploit our [people]. To improve our cooperation and address transnational crimes, we agreed to update our bilateral agreement to make it more responsive to the evolving security issues facing our region.”
He added further, “Likewise, we recognize the need to update our agreement in the field of migrant workers’ welfare and employment, to stress our common conviction to work extensively in the prevention of illegal recruitment and trafficking of persons.”
Earlier, he ordered the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to set up a Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Cambodia to look after the safety, security, and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) during his meeting with the Filipino community in Phnom Penh on Sunday.
The Chief Executive concluded his arrival remarks by expressing gratitude for Cambodia’s support for the Philippines’ bid for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council and for the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship in 2026.
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