By Billy Begas
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said the investment pledges received by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his trip to the United States are testaments to the Philippines’ potential as an attractive destination for foreign investors.
“The Philippines has a lot to offer foreign investors, including a young and growing workforce, a strategic location, and a favorable business environment,” said Romualdez who accompanied Marcos on the trip.
“I am confident that Pres. Marcos, Jr. will continue to attract more foreign investment to our country, which will help us achieve our goal of inclusive growth,” he added.
According to Romualdez, the hard work of Marcos has paid off with investments that would boost the Philippine economy and create job opportunities for the Filipino people.
“It is heartening to note that the President’s mission to the US has scored significant gains that would not only spur further economic growth but more importantly, result in direct benefits for thousands of Filipino workers in terms of jobs created,” Romualdez said.
In one of these meetings, John Padget, president and CEO of Carnival Corp. told Marcos that his group of companies is set to hire some 75,000 Filipino seafarers in the next three to four years.
Padget, who also represents Carnival Cruise Line, Holland American Airlines, and Seaborn, praised Filipino workers for their hospitality and competitiveness in the global workforce.
Marcos also met with officials of business process outsourcing (BPO) firm Atento, which has decided to set up its first call center in the Philippines at the Iloilo Business Park in the Mandurriao district.
Atento is projected to employ 554 workers in its first year and 665 workers in its second year of operation in the Philippines.
The President also met with American healthcare services provider Optum, which plans to invest some P800 million in medical BPO in the Philippines which would generate 1,500 jobs.
The pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna told the President that it plans to set up a vaccine-making facility in the country.
“I am confident that these initial fruits of the President’s labor during his official visit to the US will boost investor confidence in the Philippines, giving us reason to expect additional investments and more jobs for our people,” Romualdez added.
