SA ilalim ng pamumuno ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., nagdodoble-kayod umano si Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez upang lalo pang mapalakas ang economic security relations ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos.

Ginawa ni Speaker Romualdez ang pahayag matapos ang kanyang pakikipagpulong kay US Representative Young Kim (California-40th congressional district), chairperson ng House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific, sa US Capitol.

Binigyan-diin ni Speaker Romualdez ang kahalagahan na mapalawak ang kooperasyon sa kalakalan at pamumuhunan at ang paglikha ng oportunidad sa pag-unlad.

Kasama ni Romualdez sa kanyang pakikipagpulong kay Kim sina House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe ng ikalawang distrito ng Zamboanga, Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. ng ikatlong distrito ng Pampanga, Navotas City Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco, Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Jose “Joboy” S. Aquino II, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” del Gallego Romualdez, House Secretary General Reginald “Reggie” Velasco, at House Sergeant-at-Arms PMGEN (retired) Napoleon C. Taas.

Ayon kay Speaker Romualdez ang pakikipagpulong kay Rep. Kim ay sumentro sa pagpapalakas ng depensa at seguridad na mahalagang bahagi ng relasyon ng Pilipinas at US.

“We asked for the continued US congressional support for defense and economic security,” sabi ni Speaker Romualdez.

“On top of our strong military security with the United States, Rep. Kim has vowed to work with us to further strengthen and expand the country’s economic security with them. This partnership will boost productivity, drive economic growth, and generate new jobs,” dagdag pa ng lider ng Kamara.

Sinabi ni Romualdez na dadalaw ang delegasyon ni Rep. Kim sa Pilipinas sa Nobyembre bilang bahagi ng pagpapalakas ng relasyon ng dalawang bansa.

Sa mga nakaraang pakikipag-ugnayan, sinabi ni Romualdez na paulit-ulit na binibigyang-diin ng Estados Unidos ang kahalagahan ng Pilipinas sa kanila, gayundin sa pagkakaroon ng bukas at malayang kalakalan sa Indo-Pacific.

Ayon kay Speaker Romualdez ang paglakas ng ekonomiya ng Pilipinas na magagawa sa tulong ng Amerika ay nangangahulugan ng mas maaayos na hinaharap para sa mga Pilipino.

“Our strong strategic economic partnership will enhance economic cooperation that is very important for sustainable growth and development,” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Sinabi naman ni Ambassador Romualdez na naging matagumpay ang pagpupulong at makatutulong ito upang mapalawak ang economic engagement na magpapalakas sa ekonomiya ng bansa.

“She (Rep. Kim) is very pleased to meet the Speaker (Romualdez) and the members of his delegation. She [would] like very much to continue the dialogue and plans to be in Manila and her congressional delegation sometime this November,” ani Ambassador Romualdez. “I think they want to work with our legislative branch in the Indo-Pacific Region because she is the chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific.”

“There is no doubt that our security alliance with the US played a key role, but it is clear that ensuring economic security is equally critical in order to build a resilient and inclusive economy that will strengthen both the Philippines and the United States. Solidifying our alliance through more trade and investments can increase commerce, empower our people and ensure a peaceful, secure, and prosperous environment for all of us,” dagdag pa ni Ambassador Romualdez.

Ayon kay Speaker Romualdez naging isang malaking isyu ang pagkakaroon ng seguridad ng ekonomiya matapos ang Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have to work together by expanding and prioritizing our investments. Fostering economic cooperation and facilitating trade are keys for long-term growth and stability,” ani Speaker Romualdez.

Kinumusta rin ni Speaker Romualdez ang mga Pilipino sa distrito ni Rep. Kim na nakakasakop sa hilagang bahagi ng Orange County. Noong 2018, mayroong 89,000 Pilipino sa Orange County.

Si Rep. Kim ang unang South Korean-born Republican woman na nahalal sa California State Legislature.