MAKAKATUWANG ng administrasyong Marcos ang Kamara de Representantes sa lalong pagpapatibay ng relasyon ng Pilipinas at Estados.

Ito ang sinabi ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez sa kanyang talumpati sa John F. Kennedy School of Government ng Harvard University sa Boston, Massachusetts kung saan ito pinakinggan ng mga opisyal ng unibersidad, miyembro ng faculty at mga estudyante.

Ayon kay Speaker Romualdez malakas na ang relasyon ng Pilipinas at Amerika subalit maaari pa itong palakasin at makatutulong umano dito ang lehislatura ng dalawang bansa.

“The PH-US relations are strong. The military alliance is iron-clad. Our economic relations are robust. And the friendship between our two peoples is solid,” sabi ni Speaker Romualdez.

“Remember, however, that PH-US relations continue to be an unfinished project. Our task is to build upon the strong foundations of the past in order to achieve a common future of shared objectives and mutual prosperity. I hope that all of you here today realize that we can all be important partners in this regard,” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Nanawagan din si Romualdez sa mga nakikinig sa kanya na ipagpatuloy ang pagbibigay ng maliliit na kontribusyon upang mas mapatatag ang relasyon ng dalawang bansa.

Sinabi ni Romualdez na ngayon na ang panahon para mamuhunan sa bansa ang mga dayuhang negosyante.

“The Philippine Congress, through its mandate, lays out the legal framework wherein the Philippines and the United States can prove time and again that the partnership continues to evolve and be more responsive to promote the interests of their respective peoples,” saad ng lider ng Kamara.

Nagbago na rin umano ang papel na ginagampanan ng lehislatura at ngayon ay kasali na ito sa pagpapalakas ng relasyon sa ibang bansa hindi katulad dati na trabaho lamang ito ng Ehekutibo.

“Traditionally, foreign relations is conducted by the executive branch of the government and the role of the legislative in foreign policy decision-making is focused on the budgetary and war powers and appointment of diplomatic officials to represent the country overseas,” dagdag pa ng opisyal.

Ayon kay Speaker Romualdez ang legislative branch ay maaaring gumawa ng legal framework upang magkaroon walang maitago at magkaroon ng pananagutan sa gobyerno bilang bahagi ng pagpapalawig ng kapayapaan at pag-unlad ng bansa.

“Its members are responsible in putting forward the interests and will of their respective constituents and at the same time to maintain a balance with enabling laws and the pursuit of national interests while acknowledging the role and importance of domestic and international partners. This is an arduous task, albeit very important,” sabi pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Sinabi ni Romualdez na malaki ang naitutulong ng Amerika sa pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan at katatagan sa Indo-Pacific region at sa mundo.

Ang Amerika rin umano ay isa sa pangunahing trading partner ng Pilipinas. Noong 2022 ay umabot umano ang halaga ng pakikipagkalakan ng dalawang bansa sa $21 bilyon.

“Our economic partnership remained strong despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic and the highs and lows in our political and defense engagements. The U.S. remains to be the top destination of Philippines exports from 2019 to 2022. In fact, exports to the U.S. expanded dramatically from USD 11.122 Billion in 2020 to USD 14.006 Billion in 2021, and USD 16.173 Billion in 2022,” dagdag pa ni Speaker.

Ang Amerika rin umano ang isa sa pinanggagalingan ng Official Development Assistance (ODA) at nagkakahalaga ito ng $629.69 milyon noong 2021.

Noong 2020 ay $5.2 bilyon naman umano ang foreign direct investments ng Amerika sa Pilipinas.

“The relationship between our two countries is truly multi-faceted and what sets it apart from the partnership with other countries is our shared values and history, mutual respect and shared goals to build communities that are prosperous, sustainable, and resilient,” sabi pa ng lider ng Kamara.