PBBM welcomes Dutch monarch’s offer of help
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appreciated the offer of support from H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, in her capacity as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), to support inclusive finance and financial health efforts in the Philippines.
This included financial inclusion foundational building blocks, such as connectivity, cybersecurity, digitization, and interoperable payments, as well as how to help Filipinos improve their financial health and build resilience to economic and climate shocks. These issues are especially important for underserved groups, including farmers and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), in the country.
UNSGSA Queen Máxima offered to help connect the Philippines to her development partners to share best practices, particularly to support efforts to improve connectivity.
“Well, that’s a very, very handsome offer. Thank you very much, Your Majesty,” President Marcos remarked to UNSGSA Queen Máxima, during the latter’s courtesy call on the President at the Malacañan Palace Wednesday.
For his part, President Marcos said there are already projects in the pipeline that aim to improve the internet connectivity in the Philippines.
He added the country has the full capacity to address the issue.
UNSGSA Queen Máxima paid a courtesy call on President Marcos on Wednesday as part of her technical visit to the Philippines from May 21 to 23 to help promote financial inclusion and financial health, marking her second travel to the country as the Special Advocate after her visit in 2015 when she attended the launch of the Philippines’ National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NFSI).
The NFSI is a government action plan that aims to ensure national coordination in the design, implementation, and monitoring of policies and programs supportive of financial inclusion.
President Marcos warmly welcomed UNSGSA Queen Máxima as he expressed his appreciation for her concern to the Philippines, especially its MSMEs. The Special Advocate also expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome extended to her by the Philippine government. PCO
