Marcos says trade regulations must not become 'barriers'
KUALA LUMPUR — President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday underscored that regulations on trade should not become barriers to ensure that goods and services will flow smoothly.
''While regulations are certainly necessary, we must ensure that they do not become trade barriers. At the same time, ASEAN can begin looking into strategic trade management to equally ensure secure trade in our region,'' Marcos said during the ASEAN Leaders Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Business Advisory Council.
Marcos said that even as trade tensions and policy uncertainties remain, the private sector can find assurance in the regional bloc's quiet resolve to uphold stability and deepen economic cooperation.
''By ensuring that trade remains both open and secure, we aim to foster a more trusted and resilient economic environment within the region and beyond,'' Marcos said.
The Philippines remains committed to working together with ASEAN-BAC ''to build a future-ready ASEAN that is united in purpose, bold in vision, and inclusive in progress,'' according to the Philippine President.
Meanwhile, Marcos said there is a need to continue investing in the people as a digitally literate and adaptable workforce is the foundation for any progress.
He said the AI Engagement Platform offers a timely and strategic approach to digital governance across the region.
''By fostering collaboration on responsible and inclusive AI, it ensures that technological advancements benefit all segments of society. We fully support this initiative and recognize its potential for a future ASEAN Centre of Excellence for AI, built on innovation, ethical standards, and transparency,'' Marcos said. —RF, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
22 minutes ago
- GMA Network
Investment agency sees potential in PH coffee for Seattle market
SEATTLE – An economic development agency in Seattle—a city known for its vibrant coffee culture—sees great potential in specialty Philippine coffee entering its market. Rebecca Lovell, chief operating officer of the Greater Seattle Partners, a public-private partnership firm promoting investments and trade in the greater Seattle region, said the Filipinos' and the city's 'shared love for coffee' could pave the way for more active collaboration with local Filipino coffee producers. 'The cultural connections run deep,' Lovell told selected journalists from the Philippines and Japan on a reporting tour of the United States funded by the State Department. 'I'd love to explore more on how we can make connections around coffee.' Home to many coffee enthusiasts and the birthplace of the world's largest coffee shop chain, Starbucks, Seattle has an abundance of diverse and independent coffee houses across the city. Lovell said while the majority of Filipino-American-owned businesses, mostly in the food industry, over the years have significantly contributed to Seattle's 'traditional' economy, she also hopes to see greater penetration of Philippine coffee in the city in the future. 'There are some really, really incredible Filipino businesses here, and you see some of the richness of the food tradition. That's where, candidly, we would start to see more of a traditional economic impact,' Lovell said. Philippine trade officials in embassies in the US and Japan said in previous interviews that Arabica, a coffee variety that the Philippines produces from its highlands, including in the Sagada mountain municipality and Benguet province in the north and Mount Apo in the south, has been in demand, as well as the Barako coffee, a Liberica type of bean consumed locally and produced in Batangas and Cavite. However, they said that in order to meet the increasing demand, more plantations in the Philippines must be devoted to these types of coffee. Discussions with US and Japanese officials are ongoing to determine how various Philippine agricultural products, including coffee, can enter their market, they said. In terms of trade and investment, Lovell said the Philippines is Seattle's 17th trading partner, 14th in imports and 21st in exports. Seattle, which is fast becoming America's tech and aerospace hub, also has the ninth largest population of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans among cities in the US, according to Pew Research Center, with over 100,000. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
38 minutes ago
- GMA Network
JV Ejercito says Sara Duterte impeachment trial should proceed
Senator-elect JV Ejercito talks to media before attending the briefing for neophyte and returning senators of the 19th Congress on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at the Senate. Voltaire Domingo/Senate PRIB Senator JV Ejercito maintained Thursday that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should push through as the Senate is duty-bound to conduct the proceedings despite other lawmakers' efforts to block it. Ejercito, however, clarified that even if he is pushing for the impeachment trial to start, it does not necessarily mean that he wants a conviction for Duterte. He said the proceedings would give the Vice President a chance to clear her name. "Whether I am for it or not for it is irrelevant. The Senate is duty-bound to convene the impeachment court, according to our Constitution. Kumbaga ano namin 'yan, responsibilidad namin 'yan (That is our responsibility)," he said. "Itutuloy naman 'tong impeachment eh, whether we like it or not. As I've mentioned, we are duty-bound. Sana matapos agad, so whatever the decision is, whatever the verdict is, I hope we can go back to our normalcy as soon as possible," he added. (This impeachment will continue, whether we like it or not. As I've mentioned, we are duty-bound. But I hope it ends soon, so whatever the decision is, whatever the verdict is, I hope we can go back to our normalcy as soon as possible.) He also said it would be up to the 20th Congress to decide if the impeachment trial would push through, stressing that the plenary will always be supreme. Imee wants dismissal Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos expressed belief that the impeachment case should be dismissed, citing concerns on the timing and validity of the transmission of the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives to the Senate. "Dapat i-dismiss na ito kaagad dahil unang-una, hindi na talaga kaya matapos bago 'yung 19th Congress, may sariling rules ang Senado. Pero ang totoo, I have very serious concerns about the validity of the impeachment complaint arriving here in the Senate," said Marcos, the elder sister of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (This should be dismissed immediately because first of all, it really can't be finished before the 19th Congress ends as the Senate has its own rules. But the truth is, I have very serious concerns about the validity of the impeachment complaint arriving here in the Senate.) Marcos alleged that the House of Representatives "withheld" the complaints against the Vice President as these were filed in December 2024. However, she said the lower chamber only acted on it in February 2025. "Kung winithhold nila, aba'y sila pala ang nagpatagal nitong lahat (If they withheld the complaints, then they are the reason for the delay). Despite the lapse of two months, no action was taken to transmit to the Senate or refer any of the first three verified complaints," she said. "Para sa akin, kinakailangan alamin kung tama rin ang ginawa ng Kongreso. Sinasabi nila dinelay ng Senado. Ang akin, teka muna, sino ba talaga ang nag-delay niyan at ngayon violative na of the one-year ban on filing impeachment?" she added. (For me, it's important to know if Congress did the right thing. They are saying the Senate delayed the process. But wait, who was the one who delayed their action and now it is violative of the one-year ban on the filing of impeachment complaints?) Admin senators, too? Marcos also believes that efforts to derail Duterte's impeachment case do not only come from the Vice President's allies in the Senate, but even those allied with the administration. "Tuwing may panukala, lahat talaga tulong-tulong. Ganu'n talaga 'yun at walang kinalaman sa partido, sa Duterte 5, sa kung sinu-sino. Talagang lahat ay interesado," she said. (Whenever there are proposals, everyone really helps one another. That's just the way it is and it has nothing to do with any party, with the Duterte 5, or anyone else. Everyone is really interested.) "Mismo ang admin, sa palagay ko, interesado na mawalang bisa na 'yan kasi kinakabahan din na matalo," she continued. (I think even those allied with the administration are interested in dropping the case because they're afraid of losing.) Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa admitted Wednesday that he was behind the draft Senate resolution seeking to drop Duterte's impeachment trial. Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 hours ago
- GMA Network
DICT: Meta agreed to demote Facebook posts which gov't tagged as fake news
"Pumapayag na sila ngayon na kapag CICC o PCO o any duly authorized agency ng gobyerno, kapag nagpadala kami sa kanila na ito po, fake news 'to, they will demote in their feeds," Aguda said. Meta, the company that operates Facebook, has agreed to demote in the social media platform's newsfeeds posts that the Philippine government would flag as fake news, Information and Communication Technology Secretary Henry Aguda told a joint House committee inquiry on Thursday. Addressing a hearing of the House Tri Committee on the proliferation of disinformation online, Aguda said Kumu, Google, and TikTok had agreed in a meeting on Wednesday to comply with whatever the government would say to protect the truth. Aguda said Meta wrote the Department of Information and Communication Technology on Thuesday to inform the agency that it would implement a demotion mechanism on posts that the government would flag as disinformation. "Pumapayag na sila ngayon na kapag CICC o PCO o any duly authorized agency ng gobyerno, kapag nagpadala kami sa kanila na ito po, fake news 'to, they will demote in their feeds," Aguda said. "Meaning, hindi naman totally mawawala pero mababawasan. Malaking bagay po 'yun. And we acknowledge na sumagot is Meta," he added. (Meta has agreed that if the Cybercrime Information and Coordinating Center, the Presidential Communications Office, or any duly authorized agency of the government flags a post as fake news, it will be demoted in the newsfeeds. They won't be removed, but they will be decreased. That is a substantial development. And we acknowledge that Meta responded.) Still, Aguda said the DICT would wish for legislation on disinformation for a proactive approach against fake news. At the hearing, the Presidential Communications Office chief Secretary Jay Ruiz and Aguda proposed that social firms which allow false information to be distributed on their platforms should be penalized. 'When you allow fake news in your platform, dapat may karampatang parusa sa [iyo mula] sa gobyerno. Kasi nga ilaw ang nagpapasok niyan e. Your platform is being used to be a purveyor of ignorance. You allow it,' said Ruiz, a former television reporter. 'As a social media platform, dapat lahat 'yan…dapat nalilinis mo 'yan. With the advent of new technology, deep fakes, artificial internet intelligence, and fake news spread like wildfire. It will reach hundreds of millions in just hours,' he added. Aguda likened the situation to a mall owner who won't allow fraudulent merchants and shops inside its premises. 'A mall won't allow stores which sell fake products inside its premises. So sa akin po, ang responsibility dyan, 'yung platform,' Aguda said. He also said that there was no reason for social media platforms to be spared from regulation because, under existing laws, broadcast contents, including those in journalism platforms, as well as movies and television shows, are regulated by both state-run and private entities. 'The KBP (Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster sa Pilipinas) regulate themselves, while MTRCB (Movie and Television Review Classificatio Board (MTRCB) regulated televisin and radio broacast. Social media, on the other hand, has a reach 20 times larger than a normal broadcast,' Aguda said. 'Dapat sila [ang ipenalize] kasi kumikita po sila ng pera pa sa platform na yan. Sila ang mga pinakamayayamang kumpanya sa mundo eh,' he added. –NB, GMA Integrated News
