President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday highlighted the significant contributions of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the Philippines, particularly during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

This comes after ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa paid a farewell call to Marcos as he is set to conclude his tenure on 23 February 2025.

During their meeting, Marcos expressed his gratitude to Asakawa for his leadership and the ADB’s partnership with the Philippines.

“I always want to thank you for ADB’s involvement. The partnership between the ADB and the Philippines has certainly grown significantly,” Marcos said.

“Of particular note, ADB’s support during the pandemic was critical, absolutely critical for our recovery. Without your help, the situation would have been much more difficult for us,” he added.

To honor the relationship between the ADB and the Philippines, Marcos conferred Asakawa the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross) Gold Distinction.

This was awarded in recognition of Asakawa’s efforts in deepening the partnership and strengthening overall relations between the Philippines and the ADB.

It also highlighted his exceptional leadership in guiding the ADB to remain responsive to the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people, particularly in areas such as economic development, health, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and human capital development.

In turn, the outgoing ADB chief expressed his gratitude to the President for granting him time for this meeting before his departure.