PBBM to reduce foreign trips but confirms return to US in November for APEC summit

MANILA – After his eight foreign trips, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he will be reducing his trips abroad for the rest of the year.

He, however, confirmed that he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) that will be held in the United States in November.

“Yung mga byahe, medyo babawasan na namin for the rest of the year (The trips, we will be reducing them for the rest of the year),” Marcos said in a media interview on Monday, Jan. 23.

The reason behind this, he said, is to track and consolidate all the investment pledges the country was able to secure in his past foreign trips to attend various summits with leaders from ASEAN, Asia Pacific, European Union, and World Economic Forum.

“Kailangan na nating gawin yun. Hindi pa natin nagagawa dahil busy kami, byahe nga kami nang byahe pero at least meron kaming naiuwi. Ngayon kailangan na nating i-consolidate, kailangan na nating i-follow up, kukulitin na natin yung mga kausap natin (We need to do it now. We were not able to do it because we are busy, we keep on traveling but at least we were able to bring home something. Now, we need to consolidate it and follow up with those who we talked to),” Marcos said.

Following the criticisms over his frequent foreign trips since assuming the presidency, the President reiterated that as the new head of state, he needs to introduce himself and use the platform to establish the Philippines’ presence in the international community.

“I am the new kid on the block. Nobody knows who I am, kailangan nating magpakilala (We need to introduce ourselves),” he said, adding that for the country to gain new investments, he must present himself and the country to other world leaders.

He justified his attending the APEC summit in November, he said.

“Dapat naman talaga ang Philippine President kailangan pumunta sa lahat ng APEC. Importante talaga. Marami talagang napapag-usapan. Kung minsan five minutes lang, mag-uusap kayo, pero mula doon, nagbigay na kayo ng number, pwede mo nang tawagan, pwede mo na i-follow up (The Philippine President must attend all APEC forums. It is really important. Many are being discussed there. Sometimes in a matter of five minutes, you are able to get their number so you can call them and make follow ups),” the President explained.

“The APEC, again, is one of those that a Philippine President should really attend because it is the relationship, essentially, between ASEAN, the Philippines, and the rest of the world. Those are very very important relationships,” he added.

The President said his participation in the APEC summit in the US is the only foreign trip that is confirmed for now.

He was also in the US in September last year for his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly.

Since assuming the presidency, Marcos has made working visits to Indonesia, Singapore, US, Cambodia, Thailand, Belgium, China, and Switzerland.