PASAY CITY - President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines on Saturday, landing at Villamor Air Base, after a visit to Saudi Arabia where he participated in the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations - Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) Summit in Riyadh. In his speech, Marcos reported on his meetings with crown princes of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, business leaders, and the Filipino community.
According to News Releases by Philippines News Agency, Marcos emphasized the Philippines' priorities during the ASEAN-GCC Summit, advocating for a rules-based order to maintain peace, security, and stability in both regions. He particularly highlighted potential collaborations in the areas of energy, food security, and logistics. Marcos expressed commitment to the full implementation of the ASEAN-GCC Framework of Cooperation from 2024 to 2028.
The President also called for the protection of the rights and welfare of more than two million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) employed in GCC countries. He urged GCC member states to help upskill OFWs to meet the demands of the digital transformation in the modern workplace. During his visit, he met with the Filipino community in Riyadh, assuring them of the Philippine government's continued support.
Marcos noted that business agreements worth USD4.2 billion with Saudi firms are expected to create an additional 220,000 jobs for Filipinos in the coming years. He also had separate meetings with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to discuss ways to improve labor relations.
The ASEAN and GCC leaders issued a joint statement on Friday, covering wide-ranging areas from promoting peace and security to addressing climate change and labor mobility issues. The statement also emphasized the importance of trade and investment relations and the positive contributions of Southeast Asian manpower in the GCC region's sustainable economic growth and development.