Marcos Jr. highlights PH-UAE economic pact, salutes Filipinos in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, January 14 ------ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday evening headlined a historic shift in Philippines-UAE relations, witnessing the signing of a landmark trade deal while honoring the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in the Emirates.

Addressing a Filipino community gathering during his working visit to the United Arab Emirates, the President emphasized the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The deal, which aims to eliminate trade barriers and taxes on imports and exports between the two nations, marks a new era for Filipino businesses and labor markets. “Marami po tayong kasunduan na pinirmahan sa pagitan ng ating mga bansa. Meron na po tayong free trade agreement. Ano ibig sabihin ng free trade agreement? Ibig sabihin ay ah pagka nag import export ang UAE at saka ang Pilipinas ay hindi na natin nilalagyan ng buwis. Hindi na natin china-charge parang libre ang pag-exchange hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kung hindi pati na rin sa UAE. At yun na nga yung pinakaimportante yung CEPA na pinirmahan natin,” Marcos Jr. explained.

In a speech, the President attributed the success of the new diplomatic milestones directly to the reputation built by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “Lagi po ay kapag ako'y bumabyahe at nagkakaroon po tayo ng kaunting pagsasama... ay nagagalak po kaming lahat na makita ko kayong lahat dahil po nagbibigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa,” the President told the crowd. “Kayo po ang nagbibigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa sa pamamagitan ng inyong kontribusyon sa United Arab Emirates.”

The President noted that the UAE government’s eagerness to partner with the Philippines stems from the high regard for Filipino workers, quoting UAE leaders who told him that without Filipinos, the UAE would not have achieved its current level of prosperity. “Dahil doon eh syempre nagmamagandang loob po. Gusto tayong tulungan, gusto tayong gustong makipag-partner sa atin ang UAE dahil mahal na mahal kayong mga Pilipino,” Marcos added. “Kayo ang nagdadala ng dangal sa Pilipinas kaya you are the source of pride and honor of our country.”

HISTORIC AGREEMENTS: CEPA AND DEFENSE

The visit was highlighted by the signing of the CEPA, a comprehensive agreement that Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver described as a long-awaited tool for concrete benefits in the economic and investment sectors. Beyond trade, the two nations also solidified a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation. “Itong mga kasunduan na ito ay may layuning lalo pang paigtingin ang pakikipagsamahan ng UAE at palakasin ang ugnayan sa aspetong pangseguridad,” the President explained, calling these agreements essential ingredients for a progressive nation.

The President's visit coincided with the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and the Zayed Sustainability Awards. According to Ver, Marcos Jr. utilized these platforms to position the Philippines as a key player in solving the global climate crisis, particularly through renewable energy. “Sa kanyang mga pakikilahok, itinampok ng ating Pangulo ang ating bansa bilang importanteng bahagi ng mga tagasulong ng solusyon sa nararanasan ng ating krisis sa klima… Narito ang Pangulo upang samahan ang UAE at ipakita sa mundo na bahagi tayo sa paghahanap ng mga solusyon sa pagsugpo ng climate change katulad na lamang ng pagsulong at pagpapaigting ng paggamit ng renewable energy sa Pilipinas,” Ver said in his speech.

Ver said that during a high-level meeting between President Marcos and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan—their second in 14 months—the UAE leader expressed profound trust in the Filipino community. Ver recounted the UAE President’s words, “We are very lucky to have your people–you the Filipinos– UAE’s very luck to have you here.” “And it’s not an empty statement proof is that when he said, ‘we allow you into our hospitals, we allow you into our homes, and in critical services,’ and that is proof of how they trust us and how they are loyal to us,” Ver added.

Marcos Jr. concluded his address by urging Filipinos to embrace lifelong learning to stay competitive as new technologies emerge. He reassured the community that the government is working to dissect the problems weakening the nation to provide immediate solutions. “Makakaasa po kayo na patuloy natin patatagin ang mga programang naglalayong magsulong ng kaunlaran para sa lahat upang ating makamtan ang inaasam nating kasaganahan sa ilalim ng isang bagong Pilipinas,” he said.

The President ended with a salute to the workforce, “Mabuhay po kayo. Mabuhay ang manggagawang Pilipino. Mabuhay ang mga Pilipina ang bagong Pilipinas.”

Source: news.abs-cbn.com