Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and two other Cabinet secretaries will serve as the country’s caretakers during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Washington, D.C. 

Bersamin said the two officials are Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III.

“The order of the President is to continue the work while he is away. Anyway, we keep in constant communication with him during all the time that he is away from the country,” Bersamin told reporters.

“Wala naman kailangan na ilagay niyang specific because each of us, including the other cabinet secretaries, we are all aware of what the President has set for us to do, so we will just leave it like that and everybody continues to function 100%,” he added.

(There’s no need for the President to assign anything specific because each of us, including the other Cabinet secretaries, are already aware of what he expects from us. So we’ll just leave it at that, and everyone will continue to function at 100%)

Marcos on Sunday departed for the United States for an official visit, which includes a meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Among the topics Marcos and Trump will discuss is the steep 20% tariff rate on Filipino goods entering the US, as Manila hopes to strike a mutually acceptable and beneficial tariff deal.

The President’s visit will be from July 20 to 22, 2025.

Aside from Trump, Marcos will have a meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 21.

Several businesses in the US also expressed their intention to meet with the Philippine leader,  Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano said.

Bersamin added the President could include discussions during his Washington trip in his fourth State of the Nation Address.

“We can expect that. If he wants to include that, if there is anything worth reporting, we can expect it,” Bersamin said.

He said that the President has been involved “very personally” in the preparations for the SONA. 

“I think he has already collected the material for his SONA. Although we are still hoping or expecting na (that) the President will consider more material,” Bersamin said.

Marcos will deliver his SONA on July 28, Monday.  — RF, GMA Integrated News