Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivers his message during the meet and greet program with Filipino Community at Grand Hyatt Hotel Sunday afternoon in Jakarta Indonesia. Romualdez recognized the vital role played by Filipino community in Indonesia.
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez today said broader partnership and cooperation among our neighboring countries presents immense potential in spurring mutual economic growth that would create more jobs for our people.
“We support initiatives for enhanced cooperation and partnerships with our neighboring countries as key to unlocking the enormous potential for mutual growth and development that would generate gainful work and livelihood opportunities for Filipinos,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez made the statement on the heels of reports that the unemployment rate in the country increased to 4.5 percent in June with 2.3 million Filipinos available and looking for jobs.
The number of jobseekers rose by 159,000 from 2.17 million in May when the jobless rate was at 4.3 percent. But compared to June 2022 when the unemployment rate was 6 percent, the number of jobless Filipinos decreased by 663,000.
As the leader of the Philippine delegation to the 44th AIPA (ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly) general assembly in Indonesia, Romualdez stressed during the gathering that the path to greater prosperity in the region is by greater regional cooperation and interdependence.
“Our parliamentarians are key to enhancing economic growth, financial stability, and social inclusion, and in addressing poverty and promoting institutional stability. Legislative actions can facilitate access to markets, and improve resource allocation and regional productivity,” Romualdez said.
One such area of cooperation, according to Romualdez, is the effort to push forward the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025, which could benefit the Philippines, particularly in terms of increased tourism arrivals and tourism-based jobs for our people.
Established in 1994, the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, or BIMP-EAGA, is a cooperation initiative to spur development in remote and less developed areas in the four participating Southeast Asian countries.
