President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. departed for Osaka, Japan on Thursday to attend the World Expo 2025 where he is expected to promote the country’s rich cultural heritage by visiting the Philippine Pavilion.

The Philippine Pavilion is the country’s exhibit at the expo, which proudly showcases the nation’s vibrant culture, diverse traditions, and stunning natural landscapes. It is said to be one of the crowd favorites at the World Expo, which draws millions of international visitors and potential investors.

Also known as the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, the World Expo 2025 is located at Yumeshima, a man-made island in Osaka Bay. Organizers describe the expo as “a space where eight billion people from around the world will not only view exhibits but will co-create future society.”

Osaka had hosted the World Expo in 1970 and 1990.

“Ang pagpunta po ng Pangulo doon ay para po pasinayaan, puntahan, at ipagmalaki ang Pavillion ng Pilipinas sa nasabing World Expo sa Osaka 2025,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Palace press briefing on Thursday.

“Nagtatampok po ito ng mga mayayaman nating kultura at ang magaganda nating landscapes,” Castro said.

The Pavilion is also designed to attract global interest in Philippine tourism, Castro added.

During the official visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to the country last April, he invited President Marcos to visit the World Expo, which will run from April to October.

Aside from participating in the World Expo, Castro said the President’s itinerary will also include several business meetings.

In addition, President Marcos is scheduled to meet with members of the Filipino community while in Japan.

While the President is abroad, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, and Education Secretary Sonny Angara will serve as caretakers and oversee executive operations in his stead.

A lean official delegation accompanies the President during his trip, Castro said.

PBBM ORDERS SAN JUANICO BRIDGE REOPENED TO 12-TON VEHICLES BY DECEMBER

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given agencies working on the rehabilitation of San Juanico Bridge to reopen the bridge by December to heavy vehicles weighing up to 12 tons.

“Ang schedule namin dapat by December, before the end of the year, ang puwede nang gamitin ng sasakyan hanggang 12 tons,” the President said in his latest podcast interview aired on Friday.

“That’s a test. Sabi ko ‘pag hindi niyo natapos ‘yan, tatanggapin ko ‘yung resignation niyo,” added the President.

Since May, San Juanico Bridge was closed to all vehicles exceeding 3 tons while the rehabilitation is ongoing.

President Marcos acknowledged the hardships caused on residents and businesses by decades of neglect and lack of proper maintenance of the vital bridge linking Leyte and Samar.

“Nagulat ang aming mga engineers. Sabi nila, ‘malala na pala ito.’ Dahil ‘yung maintenance sa nakaraang ilang dekada hindi naman ginawa. Sabi ko, bakit? Wala bang record ‘yan? May record naman. Lahat nung job order completed. Pero tingnan mo, puro kalawang. Hindi nila ginawa,” said the President.

The residents themselves confirmed that the bridge did not undergo maintenance work.

President Marcos himself talked to affected residents, truck drivers and suppliers during his visit to Samar port on June 11. As an emergency measure, the President ordered a roll-on, roll-off (RORO) cargo ferry system to reroute heavy vehicles, giving priority to trucks transporting perishable goods.

“Sorry na nangyari ito at alam ko ang nararanasan ninyo, nararanasan ng mga transport operators, ang nararanasan ng ating mga negosyante. Kaya’t aasahan ninyo talagang minamadali namin na maayos kaagad ito. And we’ll make sure that you will be safe. We will bring the services of San Juanico back to normal,” said the President.