President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led a solemn wreath-laying and tree-planting ceremony at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea (UNMCK) in Busan on Sunday, honoring the Filipino soldiers who fought and fell during the Korean War.

President Marcos, accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and top Philippine officials, paid tribute to the heroism of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) and reaffirmed the Philippines’ enduring commitment to peace and international solidarity.

They were welcomed by Ambassador Suh Jeong-in, Custodian of the UNMCK and Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul.

The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea (UNMCK) is the only UN memorial cemetery in the world, where some of the remains of the brave soldiers of the 22 nations, who fought during the Korean War, were laid to rest.

The Parliament of Korea volunteered the current UNMCK ground for permanent use by the UN as a cemetery in August 1955 to honor the services and sacrifices made by the UN forces during the Korean War.

The General Assembly accepted the proposal, and UN General Assembly Resolution 977 (X) to establish the UNMCK became effective in December of 1955.

Over the years, the UNMCK has received a number of high-level dignitaries and world leaders.

In 2011, Ban Ki-moon, then Secretary-General of the UN, became the first UN chief to visit the cemetery, paying tribute to the international soldiers who died in the Korean War.

Accompanying the President and First Lady at UNMCK were Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez, Ambassador Bernadette Therese Fernandez, Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (ROK), members of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, members of the Philippine defense contingent and Philippine soldiers detailed as UN Honor Guards at the UN Command.

The Philippine delegates were with Philippine soldiers currently enrolled in ROK military organizations as scholars.

Also present in the event were the PARK Eun-jung, UNMCK Director-General of Public Affairs and Mr. John Bocskay, Director for International Affairs. PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. capped a productive and successful participation at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea, emphasizing strengthened regional ties, opportunities for strategic investments, and the Philippines’ key gains from the high-level meetings.

President Marcos, accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and the Philippine delegation to the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, arrived at the Gimhae Air Base in Busan, South Korea, shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday, where they were warmly received with arrival honors.

From the airport, the President proceeded directly to the Filipino Community gathering at the Wyndham Grand Busan, where he and the First Lady were warmly welcomed by Filipinos based in South Korea. The event was filled with music, camaraderie, and celebration that lasted for over an hour.

On Day 2, the President began his official APEC engagements early in the morning. At 9 a.m., he was formally received by the Chair of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) at the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju. At 10 a.m., President Marcos participated in the AELM Session themed “Towards a More Connected, Resilient Region and Beyond.”

To maximize discussions, the APEC Economic Leaders held a working lunch with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). Later in the afternoon, at 3:05 p.m., the President delivered special remarks at the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju.

President Marcos also had a meeting with the US APEC Business Council.

At 3:40 p.m., President Marcos returned to HICO for a bilateral meeting with the Republic of Korea, reaffirming the strong and growing partnership between the two nations. In the evening, he joined fellow leaders for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Gala Dinner at Lahan Select Gyeongju.

On Day 3, at 10 a.m., the President attended Session 2 of the AELM, themed “Preparing a Future-Ready Asia-Pacific,” held at HICO. At 12:15 p.m., President Marcos and other APEC leaders posed for an official group photo, marking the formal conclusion of the APEC 2025 meetings.

Following the summit’s conclusion, the President proceeded to Busan for another series of business meetings at the Signiel Hotel, underscoring the Philippines’ sustained efforts to attract strategic investments that will create more job opportunities for Filipinos.

To cap his working visit, President Marcos held a Kapihan with the Malacañang Press Corps, where he shared the Philippines’ key gains and takeaways from APEC 2025.-PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. admired the scenic beauty of Gyeongju, South Korea, the host city of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings which took place from October 31 to November 1.

During the Kapihan forum with members of the Malacañang Press Corps, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. described Gyeongju as “so beautiful” and said he hopes to return someday to explore the city further.

“It is actually—were you able to walk around Gyeongju? It’s so beautiful here. I’ve never been here before. I didn’t know it was that beautiful. Ang ganda dito, ngayon lang ako nakapunta dito, hindi ko alam ganito pala kaganda dito,” the President gushed.

“Kaya kami mga leader, kailangan natin bumalik dito as civilians para we can look around,” President Marcos added.

Twenty-one APEC member economies gathered in Gyeongju to discuss pathways toward shared prosperity under the theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.”

The 2025 APEC meetings were held at the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju, a state-of-the-art facility nestled amid the city’s breathtaking natural scenery as verdant hills, serene parks, and cultural landmarks. –PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. described the recently concluded 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Gyeongju, South Korea, as “very productive,” highlighting the wide-ranging discussions among Asia-Pacific leaders on trade, artificial intelligence, and climate cooperation.

Speaking with members of the Malacañang Press Corps after the summit’s close, President Marcos said the exchanges provided valuable insights into shared economic challenges and emerging opportunities for regional collaboration.

“We have just finished today the APEC here in Gyeongju…It was actually a very productive meeting because the subjects that were taken up are some of the most important and difficult subjects that the Asia-Pacific countries are facing,” the President said.

“All of us are going back to Manila with a lot of ideas to think about and some work to do to develop those ideas. And I think that that is a good reason for having these summits,” President Marcos said,

For the APEC 2025, hosted by the Republic of Korea and held at Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju, South Korea, 21 APEC member economies come together to discuss pathways to shared prosperity under this year’s Summit theme, “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,’ with the serving as the host economy.

Prior to APEC, President Marcos participated in the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 26 to 28.

“So I’m very happy, despite the fact that it was a very tight schedule because we just came back. We just came back from ASEAN, from KL, and we went almost directly here (at APEC 2025),” the President said.

The President added that APEC “is mostly really an economic discussion on what are the things that we can do.” | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Saturday that the government must adopt artificial intelligence (AI) after a thorough study and fully understanding its capabilities and suitability.

“It’s not yet clear. What AI do you use for government? And I’m sure each department has a slightly different AI. And we have to learn. Hindi pa natin alam eh,” President Marcos said in a media interview at Signiel Busan Hotel when asked about AI.

“We have to talk to the experts. We have… not only Filipinos, we have to talk to everybody, the whole world,” the President added.

According to President Marcos, experts need to determine several key aspects, including what AI is capable of and what it excels at, as well as how to utilize it effectively.

“Think tanks must also give their inputs on where AI is heading and how it will benefit the Philippines if it’s adopted, the President pointed out.

“Paano natin gagamitin para tulungan ‘yung Pilipinas? Para tulungan ‘yung ibang bansa? Para tulungan ‘yung ASEAN? People have to go to the people who are thinking about those issues so they can tell us what their conclusions are,” President Marcos said.

“We can agree or not agree, but at least we have an idea of how the thinking is going and a better idea of the technology so that we know where it is headed and where are the dangerous areas that we need to watch out for.”

He emphasized, however, that AI must be adopted “as much as we can, as soon as we can” in order not to miss a chance, stressing the fast-paced evolution of technologies.

AI is a significant takeaway from the recent APEC summit, the President pointed out, noting that participants discussed its capabilities and benefits to various countries.

Twenty-one APEC member economies came together to discuss pathways to shared prosperity under this year’s Summit theme, “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,’ with the Republic of Korea serving as the host economy. The APEC 2025 was held at the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in South Korea from October 31 and November 1. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived Sunday from his successful participation in the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea (ROK), where the President advanced Philippine interests and deepened cooperation with countries in the region.

In his arrival statement, President Marcos outlined the gains for the Philippines from his four-day visit to the ROK, including foreign investments and partnerships in key sectors.

President Marcos said he and fellow economic leaders in the Asia-Pacific had robust and fruitful discussions on the most pressing challenges in the region, including supply chain disruptions, climate change, economic inequality, and the accelerating pace of technological transformation.

“We saw, once again, how APEC-member economies, despite our diversity, shared common aspirations, and how strongly we resonated in our desire to move forward together,” the President said.

“More importantly, we debated, we listened, and we laid down meaningful and action-oriented pathways for regional economic cooperation.”

President Marcos said the key global concerns discussed revolved around the rapid deployment of AI, far-reaching demographic changes, and the flourishing of cultural and creative industries – topics that are deeply relevant to the Philippines’ vision of a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready economy.

During the discussions, the President advanced Philippine priorities, including: narrowing the digital divide for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through equitable access to digital services and financial inclusion; advancing seamless movements of goods and people through infrastructure development;

promoting supply chain resiliency amid shocks and crises; and promoting digital literacy and upskilling for MSMEs, women, and other sectors with potential.

“These priorities were well-received, and we worked with our partners to identify concrete ways forward, as reflected in the outcome documents adopted and concluded during the visit,” the Chief Executive said.

On the sidelines of the visit, President Marcos held bilateral meetings with ROK President Lee Jae Myung and Chilean President Gabriel Boric, where the leaders reaffirmed commitment to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in areas of shared interests.

President Marcos also met with top executives from Korean conglomerates, reflecting the growing confidence of Korean investors in the Philippines’ economic potential and policy environment.

The President said the discussions were strategically focused on exploring partnerships in high-value sectors, such as advanced manufacturing in electronics and semiconductors, clean energy, and defense related industries.

The President also witnessed the signing of a supplemental agreement between the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Philippine Economic Zone Authority and Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines valued at over PhP50 billion, which is expected to generate more than 3,000 new high technology jobs for Filipino engineers and technicians.

Samsung Electro-mechanics Philippines further committed to the training of Filipino workers and the establishment of R&D centers with some of the country’s universities.

“This commitment is vital as Korean FDI inflows reached 55 million dollars in the first half of 2025, reflecting strong investor confidence that this administration is seeking to translate into concrete, long term commitments,” President Marcos said.

The business meetings organized by the DTI aim to significantly deepen economic ties while leveraging the momentum of the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement which entered into force last year.

The President also met with the Filipino community in Busan, thanking them for their meaningful contributions to their communities in the Philippines and in ROK.

“Now, as we return home, let us all carry forward the momentum that we have built, translating our commitments and agreements into tangible results, forging lasting partnerships and ensuring that the Asia-Pacific region continues to thrive, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable,” said President Marcos. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met on Saturday with top officials of major South Korean conglomerate DL Group in Busan, South Korea, to discuss the company’s energy prospects and other ventures in the Philippines.

President Marcos took advantage of his working visit to the Republic of Korea to meet with Korean companies interested in doing business or expanding in the country.

DL Group’s subsidiary, DL E&C, is partnering with Meralco to pursue small modular reactor (SMR) projects in the Philippines.

SMRs are compact nuclear plants that can safely produce clean, stable energy using less land and shorter construction periods than traditional facilities.

The company launched feasibility study in August 2025 for a 320-megawatt SMR in the near term.

DL Group, with core businesses in construction, petrochemicals, and energy, was founded in 1939. It is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

Aside from its core businesses, the group is also involved in logistics and IT solutions, manufacturing, leisure, and education. PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed optimism on Saturday that the government will be able to craft “a good, clean budget” for next year as Congress continues its deliberations on the proposed national spending plan.

President Marcos said the government’s focus is on reducing the cost of materials for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and identifying potential savings in its projects.

“Even now, upon resumption of the budget hearings, marami nang nakita in both Houses, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate na magkakaroon pa tayo ng savings,” the President told reporters in a media interview in Busan.

“I think we will be able to show that it is, in fact, possible to write a good, clean budget,” President Marcos added.

President Marcos has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to cut construction material costs by up to 50 percent — a move expected to save the government at least PhP30 to PhP45 billion, which will be redirected to vital sectors such as health, education, and food.

As to government efforts to combat red tape, overpricing, and corruption, the President said that the government must make it increasingly difficult for unscrupulous officials to manipulate processes and steal funds from public coffers.

“Kahit anong gawin mo maghahanap ng paraan ‘yan para lokohin ang gobyerno. But if the systems are in place you make it harder and harder for those people to do ‘yung nangungurakot. Make it harder and harder for them to do,” President Marcos said.

“The harder it becomes, the smaller the number of people who are still operating under corrupt practices. So, it’s an ongoing thing. It’s not something that you can solve with one fell swoop.” PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday said the protest planned for Bonifacio Day on November 30 is not a cause for concern, but urged demonstrators to keep their actions peaceful and avoid violence to prevent disorder and ensure the safety of the public.

“The only concern I have when we have demonstrations for whatever reason is that there are agitators who will go and try to cause trouble,” President Marcos said during a media interview in Busan when asked about the planned mass action.

“What demonstrator goes to a demonstration with Molotov cocktails that are not intending to cause trouble or to hurt people? Those are the people that we are worried about. And those are the people that we are watching out for,” the President added.

President Marcos urged agitators to refrain from resorting to violence during protests, noting that such actions often lead to injuries among both demonstrators and law enforcement personnel.

“Tanggalin na ninyo sa isip ninyo ‘yan. Manggugulo kayo. Wala namang mangyayari. May masasaktan lang. Nasasaktan pa ‘yung mga kasama ninyo kung minsan. ‘Yung mga pulis, wala namang kinalaman ‘yung pulis,” the President added.

President Marcos acknowledged “the reasons for people’s outrage, and that’s understandable because of corruption being discovered in connection with the implementation of government flood-control projects.”

“Those funds are supposed to go to the people to feed them and to make their lives better,” the President emphasized.

Scores of people were injured during a violent protest in Mendiola last September 21, after some masked rallyists at the Mendiola Bridge in Manila hurled rocks, sewage, and Molotov explosives at policemen.

The rest of the protest actions were conducted peacefully.

President Marcos has repeatedly called for transparency and accountability in government projects, particularly in infrastructure spending, as public scrutiny heightens over alleged ghost and anomalous flood control projects.

In his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Marcos called out anomalous infrastructure projects, pointedly telling those responsible, “Mahiya naman kayo.”

Soon after, the Chief Executive launched the Sumbong sa Pangulo website to provide citizens with a direct channel to report substandard or non-existent infrastructure projects in their communities.

Several of the reports submitted through the platform were personally inspected by the President, who confirmed that many projects were either poorly constructed or, in some cases, never built at all. -PND

The Marcos Jr. administration has secured a landmark PhP50.7-billion investment from Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippine Corporation (SEMPHIL) – the first project to be granted Presidential Incentives under the CREATE MORE Act (Republic Act No. 12066). This marks a major milestone in the government’s efforts to attract strategic, high-value investments and create more quality jobs for Filipinos.

“Samsung is already in the Philippines, they have employed [thousands of Filipinos] in their very, very high-tech manufacturing plant. The products that they make in the Philippines are of the highest tech that you can imagine. And so that is very, very important for us,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said in an interview with the Philippine media delegation in South Korea.

“They [Samsung] made a commitment of a little over PhP50 billion to expand. That translates into 3,000 new jobs. And again, the transfer of technology is going to be very important,” the President added.

The Chief Executive also emphasized that Samsung has agreed to tie up with several universities in the Philippines to train Filipino workers and conduct research and development in the country.

The PhP50.7-billion SEMPHIL project and approval of its CREATE MORE Presidential Incentive were finalized following President Marcos’ meeting with top executives of Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (SEMCO) on the sidelines of the 32nd APEC Summit in South Korea.

During the meeting, President Marcos, alongside Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick D. Go and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina A. Roque, also witnessed the signing of a Supplemental Agreement between the DTI’s Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and SEMPHIL.

SEMPHIL is the Philippine subsidiary of South Korea’s SEMCO, a global leader in advanced electronics and semiconductor technology. Located in the Calamba Premiere International Park (CPIP) and registered with PEZA, SEMPHIL serves as SEMCO’s main global production hub in a cost-efficient region.

With its new expansion investment, SEMPHIL will establish a state-of-the-art, high-technology manufacturing facility to produce automotive multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) — key components used in electric vehicles (EVs) and smart devices. The project is expected to begin commercial operations by July 2027 and create over 3,500 high-quality jobs for Filipino workers.

As of December 2024, the Company already employs over 7,000 Filipinos and accounts for nearly half of SEMCO’s worldwide MLCC output.

Under the CREATE MORE Act, the President may grant tax incentives in the interest of national economic development or upon the recommendation of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB). Qualified projects are eligible for a range of incentives, including Income Tax Holiday (ITH), Special Corporate Income Tax (SCIT), and Enhanced Tax Deductions. These incentives also cover Value-Added Tax (VAT) zero-rating on local purchases, as well as VAT and duty exemptions on importation.

Secretary Go highlighted the broader significance of the SEMPHIL investment. “This is tangible and a direct outcome of this administration’s landmark policy reforms,” he said. “This development sends a strong message to the global business community: the Philippines is more than open and ready for business. We are competitive and fully capable of hosting world-class, high-technology industries. More importantly, this project embodies our commitment to create more quality jobs for Filipinos, strengthen our manufacturing base, and deepen our economic partnership with South Korea.”

Echoing this sentiment on the sectoral impact, PEZA Director General Tereso O. Paga hailed the announcement as a “landmark achievement for the country’s electronics sector.” He noted that SEMPHIL’s expansion will “strengthen the Philippines’ position in the global semiconductor value chain and create more opportunities for Filipino talent.”

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), electronic products remained the country’s top export in 2024, accounting for nearly 60% of total shipments. The new SEMPHIL project is expected to boost the Philippines’ share in global MLCC exports, solidifying its position as a reliable and competitive partner in advanced electronics manufacturing.

Meanwhile, the FIRB, chaired by the Department of Finance, emphasized that this milestone demonstrates how the CREATE MORE framework balances competitiveness with fiscal prudence, ensuring that incentives are both targeted and transformative.

The grant of the first CREATE MORE Presidential Approval stands as a powerful testament to the Marcos administration’s investment-led growth strategy, demonstrating the success of its trade and investment missions, ease-of-doing-business reforms, and efforts to transform the nation into a regional manufacturing and innovation hub, while creating more quality jobs for Filipinos.