Marcos urges US to use influence to tame rising fuel prices

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged the United States on Saturday to use its global influence to curb rising fuel prices.
 
Fears of supply disruptions resulting from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the introduction of Western sanctions aimed at the Russian economy drove up oil prices.
 
In the Philippines, inflation hit 7.7% in October, the highest in nearly 14 years, as food prices remain elevated due to supply challenges brought on by external pressures such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the onslaught of Typhoon Karding.
 
"We appeal as well to the United States to use its global influence to help ease the current global plight of rising fuel prices that we all have to deal with. We also encourage the US' long-term support for the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Energy Cooperation," Marcos said in his intervention during the 10th ASEAN-US Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
 
Marcos also asked for US support to fight climate change and protect the environment.
 
"We also appeal for the US' support for the work of the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity. The Center preserves ASEAN's varied ecosystems and mainstreams biodiversity across relevant sectors. This is to increase resilience against climate change, its impacts, and natural disasters," he said.
 
"Furthermore, its work is critical in mitigating emerging and re-emerging infectious zoonotic diseases and pandemics."
 
The US was represented at the meeting by President Joe Biden.  — VBL, GMA Integrated News