Marcos to skip UN General Assembly

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has decided to skip the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this month, acting Communications Secretary Dave Gomez told the media on Monday, Sept. 15.

“The president has delegated his engagements at the UNGA to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Tess Lazaro) to allow him to focus on local issues,” Gomez said.

The flood control scandal hounding the government may have proved to be more important for Marcos.

On Monday morning, the president announced the chairperson of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which will investigate flood control and related projects in the last 10 years.

Marcos was expected to deliver a speech outlining the Philippine position on climate change, food security, peace and security, and maritime law.

The Philippines is eyeing to get a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.

Marcos attended the UNGA in 2022. Then Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo was the country’s representative in the 2023 and 2024 meets.