Speaker Romualdez upbeat on outcome of Bongbong Marcos’ visit to Japan

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Japan (File photo)

TOKYO, Japan — Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez aired his optimism on the outcome of President Ferdinand Marcos’ official visit to Japan, where he is getting a warm reception during meetings with stakeholders.

“The President is really working hard to promote the Philippines to Japanese investors and businesses,” Romualdez, who is part of Marcos’ delegation to Japan, said.

Marcos spent the earlier part of Thursday meeting with leaders from the energy, maritime,  semiconductor and tourism industries..

“And with the warm reception he is receiving, I am confident that he would achieve more significant gains in the few remaining days of his working visit to Japan,” he added.

Earlier, the Presidential Communications Office said that the total amount of pledges will be announced on Friday, but it is expected to create 10,000 new jobs for Filipinos.

Romualdez likewise pointed out that tourism stakeholders responded positively to Marcos’ call for educational tourism, in a bid to increase the country’s foreign arrivals for 2023 further.

“These are encouraging development that would eventually redound to the benefit of tens of thousands of Filipinos, in terms of new jobs and business opportunities that would further drive our economic growth,” Romualdez, who is also the representative of Leyte’s 1st District, said.

Aside from the pledges that Romualdez mentioned, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio formally announced earlier Japan’s intention to provide a Y600 billion, or around $4.586 billion in assistance to the Philippines, in support of the latter’s bid to become an upper-middle income country.

The assistance includes the deals signed by the officials of the two governments, which were eventually exchanged by Marcos and Kishida.

Marcos is in Japan for a five-day official visit, from February 8 to 12.  Aside from meeting Kishida, Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos were also granted an audience with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

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