House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez met with US State Department Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink in Washington D.C. on Tuesday afternoon (US time). (Photo from Office of Speaker Romualdez)
MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has assured the United States (US) again that they are committed to supporting cooperation between the two countries, especially in the realm of health, security, and environment.
Romualdez said on Thursday that during a meeting with US State Department Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink in Washington D.C. last Tuesday (US time), the House would continue backing measures that would boost the Philippine-US relationship.
“(The Philippine House of Representatives) remains committed to supporting measures that would help deepen cooperation with the United States, particularly in the areas of the supply chain, health and security, environment and climate change, energy security, and interconnectivity,” Romualdez said.
“I am confident that our meeting today would further lead to stronger relations between our countries and would help attaining peace and prosperity in the entire Asia-Pacific region,” he added.
Romualdez also took the chance to thank the US government for the assistance it has provided to the country amid the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are thankful that our alliance has remained robust, and I believe that an enhanced dialogue between the US and the Philippines would help cement the bond of friendship that we have forged throughout the years,” he said.
“As we both affirm the strengthening of Philippine-US partnership today, we would like to seize this occasion also to extend our gratitude for the continued cooperation to our country as well as your valuable assistance in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.
Romualdez’s office said the Speaker has been in the US since Tuesday (US time) to extend the Philippine government’s “deep appreciation” for the chances given to the Philippines, to boost its engagement and relations with the US.
This is not the first time Romualdez rallied for stronger ties with the US and thanked the global superpower for helping the Philippines. Even before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the US last September, Romualdez and other lawmakers already hosted their US counterparts for a Congressional Friendship Caucus.
READ: As US lawmakers visit PH, Romualdez said ties between two countries getting stronger
Then, as part of Marcos’ delegation to the US, Romualdez assured members of the US business sector that the Philippine Congress is doing everything to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation. —with reports from Irish Perez, trainee