Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with United States Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jacob Helberg in Malaca±ang to discuss expanding economic cooperation between the Philippines and the US, focusing on the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) which is expected to create up to one million jobs for Filipinos.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) shared that discussions highlighted the LEC, Pax Silica initiatives, investment and technology partnerships, supply chain cooperation, and other trade priorities between the two nations. The LEC is particularly anticipated to drive significant economic growth for the country.

The Luzon Economic Corridor is a flagship initiative supported by the Philippines, the US, and Japan, aiming to accelerate infrastructure connectivity, semiconductor development, logistics modernization, clean energy investments, and digital transformation in Luzon. This meeting reaffirmed both countries' commitment to strengthening their economic and trade relations amid growing cooperation in strategic industries and emerging technologies.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the US, alongside the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty. Malaca±ang emphasized that this milestone underscores the 'longstanding partnership that continues to expand beyond security into economic growth, innovation, and shared prosperity.'

The US remains a key trading partner, a major foreign investor, and a development and security ally for the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific region.