MANILA, Philippines – Ibinahagi ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. nitong Sabado, Enero 11, sa diplomatic community ang maraming dahilan ng Pilipinas para maging mapagpasalamat sa nagdaang taon sa kabila ng mga pagsubok.
”Notwithstanding evolving global challenges and their impact on all nations, there are plenty of reasons to be grateful for the past year and still more cause to be hopeful for what lies ahead,” ayon kay Marcos sa kanyang speech kasabay ng taunang Vin D’ Honneur sa Malacañang.
Tinukoy ni Marcos ang economic performance ng Pilipinas noong 2024 katulad ng pananatili ng bansa sa pinakamalakas na ekonomiya sa Asya, na lumago ng 5.8% sa unang tatlong quarter ng nagdaang taon.
Naitala rin ang pinakamataas na revenue collection sa nakalipas na 27 taon sa P4.42 trilyon, o 16.7% ng GDP.
Noong 2024 din ay nakaiskor ang Pilipinas ng pinakamataas sa debt transparency sa 50 bansa na sinarbey ng Institute of International Finance, at nakamit ang kauna-unahang credit rating upgrade ng “A- with stable outlook” mula sa Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I), at “upgrade of outlook to positive” mula sa S&P Global Ratings.
Dagdag pa rito ay bumaba sa 4.0% ang unemployment rate.
”With strong macroeconomic fundamentals, we are confident that the country will be able to hit this year the GNI per capita range set by the World Bank to reach upper middle-income country (UMIC) status, coming off from an all-time high record registered in 2023 to the tune of $4,335 or P241,165,” anang Pangulo.
Idinagdag pa ni Marcos na ang kanyang administrasyon ay “committed to accelerating infrastructure investments, enhancing the ease of doing business, and boosting national competitiveness.”
”These will support businesses, attract foreign investments, and spur higher economic growth,” aniya.
Dalawa at kalahating taon mula nang manungkulan sa pwesto, sinabi ni Marcos na ang Pilipinas ay ”embarked on a diplomatic agenda that leverages international partnerships, which have translated to increased bilateral engagements and cooperation with traditional partners and new allies in key economic sectors and security areas.”
Nagbukas din ang bansa ng apat na embahada sa Europa at Latin America noong nakaraang taon, habang mayroong apat na foreign service posts ang bubuksan sa North America, Asia, at Pacific.
Binuksan naman ang ilang embahada noong nakaraang taon sa Manila gaya ng Bahrain at Slovenia.
Sinabi ng chief executive na ang Pilipinas ay nasa “very strong position” para kumuha ng mas marami pang leadership roles sa multilateral diplomacy, na tumukoy sa bid ng bansa sa non-permanent seat sa United Nations Security Council para sa 2027-2028 term.
“Our candidature is consistent with our long-held view that we need to further strengthen multilateralism through efforts that will reform the Security Council and revitalize the General Assembly,” ani Marcos.
”I take this opportunity anew to convey to your respective governments our earnest request for your support for our UNSC bid, and we hope for your support when the time comes when we are indeed sitting as a member of the Security Council.”
Nagpasalamat ang Pangulo sa mga miyembro ng Diplomatic Corps sa pagsuporta sa pamahalaan sa social at economic programs nito.
“So allow me to make a toast to another year of partnerships and collaboration with you, with your countries, and enduring friendships between our countries and, even more importantly, our peoples,” aniya. RNT/JGC
