President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said that one of Unilever's largest personal care facilities in the world is expected to generate over 5,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for the Philippines.

In his speech during the inauguration ceremony at Unilever's factory in General Trias, Cavite, President Marcos Jr. said that the multinational corporation's investment is a vote of confidence in the Philippines and the talent of the Filipino people.

Marcos also expressed his admiration for Unilever's commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

"I would like to note that this major investment is amongst the pledges that we received during our trip to Belgium for the ASEAN-EU Summit last December," Marcos Jr. said.

"To see this project come to fruition after just several months is not only encouraging. It also inspires me and the rest of the government to work even harder for the Filipino people," he added.

Marcos Jr. also congratulated and thanked Unilever Philippines for the establishment of this very high technology and sustainability-driven manufacturing facility for personal care products.

He said that Unilever's latest move is a truly welcome development for all our shared efforts to strengthen the manufacturing sector and ultimately create jobs and gainful opportunities for Filipinos.

Marcos Jr. also assured Unilever of the government's unwavering support for the company's expansion and sustainability plans in the Philippines.

"Let me thus assure you of the government's unwavering support for your company's expansion and sustainability plans here in the Philippines, as well as for your just and humanitarian causes that benefit our citizens and communities," the President said.

"I enjoin everyone to strive towards building a healthier and more resilient future by devising ecologically sound initiatives that confront our contemporary challenges," he added.

In the same speech, Marcos Jr. said that several more initiatives and endeavors are underway to reinforce the Philippines' status as a prominent player in intelligent and eco-friendly manufacturing.

Marcos Jr. highlighted the government's "strategic" efforts to encourage increased investment in the country. These efforts encompass the creation of "green lanes," backing for ecozones, and the implementation of pivotal policy revisions, such as modifications to the Public Service Act, Foreign Investments Act, and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act.

"Our efforts to transform the economy do not end here," Marcos said.

"We have many more initiatives and even more projects in the pipeline aimed at cementing the Philippines's position as a leader in smart and sustainability-driven manufacturing in Southeast Asia and in the world," he added.