Marcos eyes food, energy deals at Saudi summit

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos is expected to push for cooperation in various areas, including food and energy security, and a rules-based international order during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) Summit in Saudi Arabia.

“This summit will serve as an important platform for the Philippines to highlight the need for cooperation in energy and food security, logistics, supply chains, digital (transformation), the free flow of goods, people and services, as well as the enhancement and protection of the rights, of course, of our overseas workers,” Marcos said in a speech delivered yesterday at the Villamor Air Base before departing for Riyadh.

“We will emphasize our advocacy for a rules-based international order to maintain peace and security, stability in our regions,” he added.

Vice President Sara Duterte will serve as the caretaker of the government while Marcos is in Riyadh. Marcos’ official visit to Saudi Arabia will be his 17th overseas trip since becoming president last year.

The GCG has six members – Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait – while the ASEAN is composed of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The conference is the first interaction between the ASEAN and GCC where the two regions are expected to produce the ASEAN-GCC Framework of Cooperation for 2024 to 2028.

“I will meet with ASEAN and Gulf Cooperation Council leaders to discuss the challenges of major geopolitical developments and the comprehensive and concrete enhancement of our security, our economic progress and socio-cultural collaboration after more than thirty years of ASEAN-GCC relations,” Marcos said.

Upon arrival yesterday, the President addressed Saudi business leaders during a rountable meeting where the Chief Executive introduced the Maharlika Investment Fund to Middle Eastern countries and the rest of the world.

Marcos describing it as “one of the important aspects” of the trip.

Aside from the conference, Marcos said he would also meet with members of the Filipino community in Riyadh to update them on important developments in the Philippines and to thank them for their invaluable contributions. There are about 2.2 million Filipino workers in GCC countries.

Meanwhile, some 10,000 unpaid overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who worked in a Saudi construction firm that went bankrupt in 2015 are hoping that Marcos will discuss their unpaid salaries with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

Last year, the Crown Prince announced that the Saudi government is setting aside two billion riyals or about P30.5 billion to shoulder the unpaid salaries of the OFWs from 2011-2014. — Rudy Santos