We continue to work on strengthening US-Philippine ties

This June 12, we are celebrating the 120th anniversary of our independence, and the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. is preparing for a special celebration. All our consulates in the United States are also planning their respective programs to make the celebrations very meaningful. 

In the past few weeks, we have been showcasing our unique heritage and culture through various activities such as the Embassy’s participation in the first ever Embassy Showcase organized by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association (CAPASA), a non-profit congressional staff organization that promotes diversity among staffers on Capitol Hill and beyond. 

 We put up a booth that shared information about our top tourist destinations that include Bohol, Davao, Cebu, Palawan and Ilocos, among many others. It was a great opportunity to connect with Congressional staffers who are also members of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, with the event serving as an avenue to build synergies among various players in public and foreign policy.

 We are also in the middle of discussions regarding a bilateral free trade agreement which hopefully will boost the trade and economic partnership between the Philippines and the United States even more. Many American business groups are supportive of this initiative, and we are glad to note that a delegation from the US headed by Deputy US Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish visited the Philippines recently and had discussions with members of the Duterte administration’s Economic team.

 Every time I speak before business groups, I always urge them to increase their participation in the economic transformation that is happening in the Philippines, with reforms and changes being implemented to ensure that the effects of economic progress and development will be felt by the poor.  

President Duterte’s recent signing of Republic Act 11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Delivery Act, is a very welcome development as it could solve the perennial problem of bureaucratic red tape because it reduces the processing time for business transactions in government offices. 

Under this law – which amended the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 – simple transactions should only take three days while the really complex and highly technical ones should be finished in 20 working days. What’s more, local government units must have a unified business application form for business permits and clearances, and are required to set up a one-stop-shop where people can secure applications and different kinds of clearances and permits in just one location.   

Clearly, the Philippines is an exciting investment destination, and we have been working to elevate awareness about this through speaking engagements and various other undertakings. But aside from trade, there are also other areas of shared concern between the Philippines and the United States, among them climate change whose damaging effects – such as floods and droughts – will impact the poor who are the most vulnerable.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Renato Solidum was in Washington, D.C. recently and spoke before multi-sectoral audiences at the Philippine Embassy and the World Bank. During his lecture at the Philippine Embassy before an audience composed of academics and analysts, government officials, representatives from the private sector as well as members of the Filipino-American community, Dr. Solidum stressed the importance of science and technology as well as innovation to assess risks and hazards, and provide technology solutions to mitigate these risks.

The Philippines is a country exposed to various natural hazards, and is extremely vulnerable in both the Pacific typhoon belt and ring of fire. Aside from monitoring and forecasting, appropriate – not to mention timely – response during and after disasters can spell the difference between life and death. 

A great concern among Filipinos especially those living in Metro Manila is a major earthquake dubbed as “the big one” with a 7.2 magnitude. One can just imagine the chaos that could happen, which is why government is taking steps to ensure the physical safety of the more than 25 million residents of Metro Manila if – God forbid – the “big one” happens. 

Even the recent Balikatan 2018 exercises participated in by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Army units had a humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) component, which is a current focus of the partnership between the Philippines and the US. Interestingly, the first project under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is the construction of a warehouse in Basa Air Base in Pampanga where HADR assets will be stored. 

The continuation of EDCA – which is an agreement signed in 2014 during the administration of President Barack Obama – underscores the solid military alliance between the Philippines and the United States. Even as President Duterte pursues friendships and alliances with other nations in keeping with our independent foreign policy, he respects the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two nations. 

 The ties that bind the US and the Philippines are strong, having endured for more than seven decades – and it is this thought that makes many Filipinos calm and unflustered despite the developments involving the South China Sea. Those who know the president well say there is an overall strategy with regard to sensitive issues, with talks being conducted away from the glare of the media and public. We need to trust his judgement call.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in resolving the territorial issue with China, we need to be “prudent, patient and pragmatic.” When all is said and done – we would all realize that patience is indeed a virtue. 

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