Speaker Martin Romualdez. Photo from the official Facebook Page of Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said the meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and United States (US) Vice President Kamala Harris in San Francisco was “successful,” proving the lasting stability of Manila-Washington ties.
Roumaldez disclosed that key issues during the bilateral talk include the West Philippine Sea and reaffirmation of commitment to a rules-based approach to the sea dispute.
Marcos and Harris met on Wednesday (US time) on the sidelines of the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in San Francisco, California.
“The successful bilateral meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and US Vice President Kamala Harris [is] a testament to the enduring strength of the alliance between the United States and the Philippines,” Romualdez said in a statement.
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“Of paramount importance is the reaffirmation during their meeting of our shared commitment to upholding international rules and norms, particularly in the South China Sea,” he added.
Romualdez said that Marcos and Harris likewise discussed commercial and economic cooperation expansion.
“Pres. Marcos and Vice President Harris recognize the potential for mutual growth and prosperity through collaboration, fostering economic opportunities that will benefit both nations and their people,” the Philippine House of Representatives leader noted.
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Citing the White House-released readout of the Marcos-Harris meeting, Romualdez said that the US Vice President announced a new partnership with the Philippine government “to grow and diversify the global semiconductor ecosystem under the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, created by the CHIPS Act of 2022.”
Marcos also held a meeting with the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) in the US, according to Romualdez, and the President assured the companies that the Philippine government is ready to work with them should they choose to invest or expand in the Philippines.
“US investments into the semiconductor sector will create more jobs for our people, generate considerable revenue for the government, and advance our capabilities with the transfer of technology through such partnership,” Romualdez pointed out.
Aside from attending the Apec Leader Summit in San Francisco, Marcos’ weeklong trip in the US also included working visits to Los Angeles (LA) and Hawaii. In LA, he is expected to lead a Philippine economic briefing and meet with top US companies, while in Honolulu, he is anticipated to visit the Indo-Pacific Command headquarters.
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