The Philippines and the USA enjoy 77 years of fruitful and vibrant friendship and cooperation in various areas such as trade, defense, and people-to-people relations. As we welcome United States Senator Rick Scott during his working visit to the country, we want to convey our appreciation to America, especially in its recent assistance to communities affected by typhoon Egay in Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Isabela and Cagayan.
Our country fully recognizes its bilateral relations with the U.S., being the second home to more than four million Filipinos, and we thank them for their contribution to development and defense cooperation in our region and for standing with the Philippines by supporting our legal victory on the West Philippine Sea. In line with this, I am committed to pushing for the creation of a comprehensive legal structure, adhering to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), through the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, ensuring legal stability within our maritime zones.
Together, we stand united in fostering peace and stability in the region.
