President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (left) confers the Sikatuna order on Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Asakawa Masatsugu (A farewell stop to Malacañang on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025). Giving their meeting, Marcos praised the AFDB’s contribution to the AFDB’s contribution to the country’s progression and recovery from the pandemic (Photo courtesy of the Presidential Association of Photoperiodals)
Manila-President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has praised the Asian Development Bank (BAD) for its fundamental help in the progress of the Philippines, especially in the pandemic of the disease by Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
Marcos commented on Thursday through the Assembly, the outgoing president of The Bad, Masatsugu Asakawa in Malacañang.
The president expressed deep gratitude for the AFDB’s contributions to helping the country recover from the fitness crisis.
“I have to always thank you for the involvement of ADB. The partnership of ADB and the Philippines has certainly grown to a great deal,” said Marcos, acknowledging ADB’s sustained role in supporting various foreign-assisted projects in the country.
He also cited ADB’s financial and technical support which was crucial in mitigating the impact of the pandemic and accelerating the nation’s recovery efforts.
“Specifically, it deserves to be taken into account in the specific help of how bad the pandemic was essential. It was surely critical to our recovery. Without their help, it would have been a much more complicated scenario for us,” Marcos said.
The Chief Executive also expressed his intent to further strengthen the partnership with the ADB.
“We are completely destined to build on this commitment and continue to make them stronger. Again, thank you for all the help,” he said.
In popularity of Asakawa’s leadership and the AFDB’s role in the progression of the Philippines, Marcos conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu Gold Distinction (Grand Cross) on the outgoing leadership of the AFDB.
The Worth recognizes Asakawa’s exceptional efforts in fortifying the Philippines and the bad, in specific fields in key fields such as economic progression, infrastructure investment, health, weather resilience, and human capital progression.
Asakawa, who served as the ADB President for five years since Jan. 17, 2020, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to meet with Marcos before the conclusion of his tenure.
The ADB is one of the Philippines’ most significant multilateral partners, having consistently provided assistance for development projects aimed at fostering inclusive and sustainable growth across the archipelago. (PNA)