According to the Official Gazette, international trips made by the President of the Philippines are an opportunity to "foster and maintain" relations with other governments and to meet other heads of state and/or government. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President classify these trips as either a state visit, an official visit, or a working visit.
Bongbong Marcos, the 17th and current president, has made 37 international trips to 23 countries during his presidency so far, which began on June 30, 2022. More trips have been planned.
Unless otherwise stated, the President was accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos on all of his trips. His first cousin, then-House Speaker and Leyte's 1st district representative Martin Romualdez, joined most of his trips as well, while the President and the First Lady's eldest son, Ilocos Norte's 1st district representative Sandro Marcos, joined some.
The number of visits per country where President Marcos traveled are:
President Bongbong Marcos' international trips, particularly his unannounced visit to the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix, have been met with both criticism and defense. His attendance at the event, which came shortly after Super Typhoon Noru and during a period of record-high inflation, sparked public concern after photos of Marcos, his family, and staff at the event surfaced on social media. Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno criticized the trip as insensitive, while Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes questioned why the palace did not announce the visit beforehand as it was classified as an official visit. In response, Marcos stated that the trip aimed to foster business relations, humorously noting that while golf is often cited as a way to "drum up business", he believed Formula One could serve the same purpose. The Palace later clarified that Marcos and his family traveled to Singapore on a military jet.
The controversy resurfaced when Marcos also attended the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix (albeit announced beforehand), prompting new criticism. The National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates-Youth (NNARA-Youth), a peasant advocacy group, condemned his presence at the event, with spokesperson Marina Cavan criticizing Marcos for "enjoying the high life" while Filipinos struggled with rising prices and oil hikes. NNARA-Youth also pointed to Republic Act 6713, which mandates public officials to live modestly, and questioned the President's priorities, especially as he concurrently served as Secretary of Agriculture then. Similarly, Bayan's Renato Reyes lamented Sky Sports F1's broadcast of Marcos at a Ferrari garage during the 2023 race, contrasting it with the economic hardships faced by Filipino motorists enduring consecutive oil price hikes. Reyes questioned whether the Paddock Club tickets, which can cost up to US$11,000 (around â±425,000) per person, were purchased for the presidential entourage, while also noting the â±1.4 billion travel budget requested by Marcos for 2024.
Critics, particularly opposition lawmakers, have framed these trips as part of a broader effort to rehabilitate the Marcos family's image on the global stage. ACT party-list representative France Castro suggested that by associating with influential figures worldwide, Marcos was attempting to distance himself from the legacy of corruption and human rights violations tied to his father's regime.
Public opinion on Marcos' foreign travels has shifted over time. A Social Weather Stations survey from mid-2024 revealed that 51% of respondents saw little to no benefit from these trips, a notable increase from 44% in a similar 2022 survey. Conversely, the percentage of respondents who believed the trips had much or very much benefit declined. Despite this, Malacañang maintains that these trips are crucial for securing investments and advancing the administration's economic agenda. Marcos himself has consistently emphasized the importance of positioning the Philippines as a key investment destination in Asia, citing â±3.9 trillion in investment pledges secured during his travels by mid-2023. These pledges, according to the government, have the potential to create 175,000 jobs.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile has defended the necessity of these international engagements, explaining that many trips are made at the invitation of host countries. He argued that if Marcos declined these invitations, he could be accused of neglecting the country's interests on the global stage. Enrile highlighted that these trips address vital issues such as national security and economic cooperation.
Data from the Department of Trade and Industry supports the administration's position, reporting â±4.019 trillion (US$72.178 billion) in investment commitments from 2023. These investments, spanning sectors like manufacturing, renewable energy, and telecommunications, could generate over 200,000 jobs. Several projects are already operational, while others are in various stages of progress.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman acknowledged that while the travel budget for 2025 was slightly reduced, she expected the President to still pursue international trips to follow up on those commitments. The Commission on Audit, however, noted a significant increase in the Office of the President's travel expenses, which surged by 996% in 2022.
Former Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual reported that by the end of 2023, Marcos' foreign trips had already led to actualized investments worth â±294 billion (US$5.28 billion), resulting in job creation across various sectors. Economist Michael Ricafort has observed an increase in foreign direct investments since Marcos took office, attributing some of this growth to the investment commitments secured during these trips.
Multilateral meetings of the following intergovernmental organizations that the Philippines is a member of (or invited to) are scheduled to take place during Marcos' term in office.