PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday morning departed for Saudi Arabia to attend the inaugural summit between Southeast Asian leaders and Gulf states that is seen to boost efforts to address energy and food security in the region.

In a pre-departure speech before boarding his flight, Marcos said the 2023 Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit (Asean-GCC) will serve as an important platform for the Philippines to highlight the need for cooperation in energy and food security, logistics, supply chains, digital information, free flow of goods, people and services, and enhancement and protection of rights of our overseas workers.