‘State visits for country, economy’
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday left for Indonesia on his first “pangangapit-bahay” or presidential foreign trip, which aims to strengthen the country’s bilateral relations with other nations, especially its close neighbors in Asia.
The President, accompanied by First Lady Liza Marcos and presidential son Rep. Sandro Marcos, left at 10:13 a.m. for his September 4 to 6 state visit to Indonesia that will be followed by a state visit to Singapore on September 6 to 7.
The President said his trip is the “first of a series of trips” that he will be making to visit the Philippines’ friends, partners, and allies around the world in a bid to “put the Philippines in a position where we have strong alliances and strong partnerships,” which are necessary in developing a post-pandemic economy.
“So I leave to undertake my first state visits to our immediate neighbors, Indonesia and Singapore. In other words, ako ay mangangapit-bahay para sa ating bansa at para sa ating ekonomiya (So I leave to undertake my first state visits to our immediate neighbors, Indonesia and Singapore. In other words, I will visit our neighbors for our country and our economy),” he said.
Among those included in the presidential delegation were Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Presidential Management Staff secretary Naida Amping, and special assistant to the president Antonio Lagdameo.
Also in the delegation were Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla.
Vice President Sara Duterte, who attended the departure honors for the President, was designated as the officer-in-charge during the President’s absence.
Also present during the departure honors were Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Vicente Bartolome Bacarro.
The President said he is embarking on his trip to Indonesia on the invitation of President Joko Widodo, and later to Singapore on the invitation of Singaporean President Halima Yacob.
The President said that while in Indonesia, he will meet Widodo to discuss the two countries’ bilateral relationship and the changing global geopolitical environment, and witness the signing of several agreements, particularly on defense and security, creative economy, and culture.
Among the agreements is the Philippines-Indonesia Plan of Action for the next five years, which commits both countries to projects and activities covering the full range of bilateral ties. Angeles said the 2022-2027 plan of action will be a “guidepost towards the diamond jubilee anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Indonesia and the Philippines.”
She said the 1997 defense and security cooperation agreement between the Philippines and Indonesia will be renewed and will involve exchanges on training and intelligence, high-level visits, logistics and procurement.
She said a memorandum of understanding will be signed on creative economy, trade and investment, agriculture, green energy, Mindanao Eastern Indonesia trade and connectivity, and some socio-cultural and people to people exchange programs.
Marcos Jr. also intends to seek a partnership with Indonesia for investments in critical areas such as agriculture and energy, the administration’s major priorities, and meet with the business community to talk with them about the potential investment opportunities in the country.
“We will reaffirm our ties with (a) fellow archipelagic nation and Asean co-founder, Indonesia, with whom we share an extensive maritime border in the south of the Philippines,” he added.
Angeles said there are ongoing talks about maritime cooperation and border issues which are “primarily the limitation of the continental shelf, possible review of border agreements, fisheries and IUUF (illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing).”
She added that issues on transnational crimes, including the rescue of abducted Indonesians and the neutralization of Indonesian terrorists in the Jolo bombing, will be discussed during bilateral talks, along with an exchange of views on regional ang global issues such as the West Philippine Sea, on Ukraine conflict, Myanmar and Asian centrality, and Indonesia’s G20 presidency.
MEETING THE FILCOM
The President met members of the Filipino community in Indonesia on his first night, where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment and plans for enhancing the government’s efforts to protect the rights and ensure the welfare of overseas Filipinos.
He said the Department of Migrant Workers, which will oversee and ensure their interests, will be fully operational by 2023. He also introduced Ople and his Cabinet members to the OFWs.
He also conveyed his appreciation for their support and valuable contributions not just to the Philippines but also to the host country. He said he is proud of the OFWs who also bring honor to the country by doing their outstanding work.
Marcos Jr. reiterated his commitment to ensure that there will be more jobs in the Philippines to accommodate all Filipinos, including the OFWs who would return.
In his vlog that was released on the eve of his trip, he reiterated that overseas Filipino workers are the “modern day heroes” of the country as he acknowledged their invaluable contribution to the country, especially during the coronavirus disease pandemic.
During his speech, he laughed, thanked, and joked with those who chanted “I love you, BBM.”
“Not in front of my wife,” he teased.
After his speech, the President, the First Lady, and Rep. Marcos also took some time to pose for pictures with some members of the Filipino community.
Ople, in a briefing in Jakarta in Indonesia yesterday, said the meeting with the Filipino community is symbolic as it is the first activity of the President in his trip abroad, which shows the importance the Marcos administration has bestowed on them.
She said the President has also not been able to go abroad to campaign during the pandemic and this will be a chance for him to thank them for their support.
During the speech, Marcos Jr. joked “iboto nyo kami ni Sara ha (vote for Sara and I),” as he thanked them for their continued support.
Asked about the plight of the OFWs especially of Mary Jane Velsoso who is on death row in Indonesia, Ople and Angeles both expect the issue to be among the topics to be discussed but preferred to defer the matter to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“By agreement it will be the DFA that will be taking the lead primarily for two reasons: it has institutional memory and knowledge from the start of the case until today and second, and I am pretty sure Secretary Trixie will agree with me, on the importance of speaking with one voice on a case that has such very sensitive dimensions as the case of Mary Jane Veloso,” Ople said.
Ople also said the government has received a copy of the letter of the parents of Veloso, who are asking the President to bring her back to the Philippines. She said her office received it and it was turned over to Manalo who is expected to raise it with Marcos Jr.
From Indonesia, the President and his delegation will proceed to Singapore for his September 6 to 7 state visit.
Marcos Jr. said he will meet both President Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to renew the Philippines’ commitment in deepening bilateral relations, explore options for advancing economic ties, as well as discuss regional and global issues.
He and the Prime Minister will also witness the signing of several agreements. He will also meet with the business sector as he seeks to harness the potential of the two nations’ vibrant trade and investment relations.
Economic briefings, business forums, and meetings have been organized in Singapore to attract more investments and buyers for the country’s exports, aimed at accelerating its post-pandemic economic growth.
“Singapore has been the Philippines’ top trading partner in Asean and the top source of approved investments in 2021. Our economic cooperation with Singapore has grown by leaps and bounds for the past half-century, and more opportunities are just waiting to be tapped by both sides,” the President said.
Marcos Jr. will also meet with OFWs in Singapore — home to 200,000 Filipinos — to thank and commend them for their contributions to the economies of both Singapore and the Philippines.
“We are always so proud of them and we are glad to see that our neighbors where our Filipino nationals work and strive also appreciate them for what they do,” he said.
