President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not attend the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) High Level Week in New York City next week, opting instead to focus on pressing domestic concerns.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro will represent the Philippines at the global forum, which begins on September 22.

“The President has delegated his engagements at the UNGA to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to allow him to focus on local issues,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said in a statement.

On Monday, President Marcos led a series of key activities aligned with his administration’s domestic priorities. He first announced the full composition of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), tasked with investigating alleged irregularities in flood control and infrastructure projects.

Following the announcement, the President traveled to San Pablo City, Laguna, to inaugurate and award over 1,000 housing units at St. Barts Southville Heights. The beneficiaries include informal settler families displaced by the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul Project Segment 2-7.

Later in the day, Marcos visited Tuy, Batangas, to lead the energization of the Citicore Solar Batangas 1 Power Plants in Barangay Lumbangan. The initiative underscores the administration’s push for renewable energy and sustainable development.

Capping off his day, the President attended the national culminating activity of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program at the University of Makati auditorium in Taguig City. The program aims to strengthen foundational education and promote literacy among Filipino children.

The President’s decision to skip UNGA 80 signals a strategic shift toward addressing urgent local challenges while maintaining the country’s presence on the international stage through diplomatic channels.