MANILA, Philippines – Nagpahayag ng kanyang intensyon si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. para sa “greater” security at economic relations sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos sa kanyang pagbisita sa Washington, D.C. mula Hulyo 20 hanggang 22.
“The purpose of this visit is to further strengthen the Philippines-United States alliance, to proactively engage the US in all aspects of the relations and seize opportunities for greater security and economic cooperation,” sinabi ni Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Raquel Solano sa press briefing sa Malacañang.
“We will continue to underscore that for the Philippines to be a truly strong partner for the United States, we need to be stronger economically as well,” dagdag pa niya.
Ang official visit ng Pangulo sa Washington D.C. ay tugon sa imbitasyon ni US President Donald Trump.
Si Pangulong Marcos ang unang ASEAN head of state na inimbitahan para bumisita sa Estados Unidos at magdaos ng pulong kasama si Trump matapos maupo ang huli bilang halal na Pangulo ng Estados Unidos noong Enero ngayong taon.
Ang pagbisita ni Pangulong Marcos ay kasunod ng negosasyon sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos ukol sa 20-percent tariff na ipinataw ng administrasyong Trump sa Philippine exports.
“Marcos, during his visit to the US, also aims to discuss the tariff rate that will be levied on Philippine exports starting Aug. 1,” ayon kay Solano.
“Right now, there is a team, Filipino group of Philippine trade officials who are in Washington, D.C., and they’re conducting these negotiations. And we hope, of course, to arrive at a bilateral trade agreement or a deal on the reciprocal trade that is mutually acceptable, mutually beneficial for both our countries,” dagdag niya.
Nang tanungin kung kasama ang free trade agreement para sa kabuuang elimination ng taripa, sinabi ni Solano na umaasa ang gobyerno na ang dalawang bansa ay darating sa “mutually acceptable” trade deal.
Sinabi ni Solano na inaasahan na pag-uusapan nina Pangulong Marcos at Trump ang mas malapit na kooperasyon sa economic, defense, at security matters na karaniwang interes.
Idinagdag pa na tatalakayin ng dalawang lider ang West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue at iba pang regional at international concerns.
“Well, in the agenda of the meetings, there’s going to be an exchange of views on regional issues and concerns. So ultimately, this issue on the West Philippine Sea would be discussed,” ayon kay Solano.
“And as to the possible agreements, well, we’re hoping to secure the assistance or support of the US government in enhancing the capabilities of our AFP and the Coast Guard in terms of the capabilities of our armed forces,” dagdag pa niya.
Bukod sa bilateral meeting kay Trump, nakatakda ring makipagpulong si Marcos kina US State Secretary Marco Rubio at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Sinabi rin ni Solano na may ilang US businesses ang nag-request na makapulong ang Pangulo upang pag-usapan ang investment opportunities sa Pilipinas.
Tumanggi siyang ihayag ang pangalan ng mga kompanya ngunit tiniyak na “they are in line with the priorities of the Philippine government with respect to the promotion of our development objectives.”
“The objective of the visit is also to strengthen economic cooperation with the US, and these meetings with the business leaders is part of it. So, we are interested, of course, in getting these potential investors to invest here in the country. And actually, these companies that I mentioned earlier are already in the process of investing in the Philippines,” aniya pa.
Samantala, hindi magagawang makapulong ni Pangulong Marcos ang Filipino community sa Estados Unidos dahil sa kanyang “very short visit.”
