Philippine-US Congressional Delegation Strengthen Partnership  

The Philippine Congressional Delegation led by Speaker Martin Romualdez and Senate President Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda welcomed a five-member Congressional Delegation (CODEL) from the United States of America led by Senator Edward Markey at a Reception at the Fairways Grill, Manila Golf and Country Club last Thursday, August 18, 2022.

Senator Loren Legarda described Philippine-US relations as robust.  She said, “There is so much we can do together, not just for climate change adaptation and mitigation, but to restore and conserve our finite resources in our planet.”

United States Senator Markey called Legarda his “climate twin in the Philippines” for her passion and effectiveness in passing legislation on climate solutions.

Addressing the Philippine Congressional Delegation composed of Speaker Romualdez, Senator Legarda, Senator Francis Tolentino, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Congresswoman Stella Quimbo, Congressman Teodorico Haresco, Congressman Robert Barbers, and Congressman Edgar Chatto, US Senator Markey avowed, “We want to partner with you on human rights, on climate change, on strong economic and military ties.  We are absolutely committed in maintaining that strong partnership that we have, into the future.”

The five-member CODEL is composed of Senator Markey (Democrat-Masschusets), Congressman Alen Lowenthal (Democrat-California), Congressman John Garamendi (Democrat-California), Congressman Donald Beyer (Democrat-Virginia), and Congresswoman Aumua Radewagen (Republican-American Samoa).

Legarda informed the US Delegation that the Philippines needs its ally to help the country ensure that the Filipinos’ pandemic recovery is resilient and that it will bring the country to a better normal.

While in the Philippines from August 17 to 19, 2022, the US CODEL met with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.