‘But still, incentives to business should be provided by the government, such as competitive prices and supply of electricity… Only then will businessmen and OFWs with savings to invest would come in.’
WHENEVER a Philippine president travels abroad, there is always a part of the schedule where he/she meets with the Filipino community, and the group is mostly composed of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and expatriates.
With President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the US, the news and even supported by videos is that he was welcomed warmly by ecstatic Filipinos. The general sentiment is that there is hope for the country with the election of a popular President.
President Bongbong and the Filipino-American and Fil-Canadian communities held their meeting at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in New Jersey, and the warmth and excitement among the crowd was palpable. There were pockets of protesters outside the venue, especially because the anniversary of martial law is near, but this group was largely ignored.
At the meeting, Marcos asked Filipinos abroad not just to continue supporting his administration but also to start investing in the Philippines no matter how small the investment is. He also acknowledged the sacrifices and contributions of the OFWs because the remittances they send their families back home also provide the dollars needed by the country for its economic recovery.
Marcos acknowledged that the more than 10 million Filipinos spread throughout the globe are a huge part of his constituency, and their financial power is enormous if the government can tap it for local investments. In his speech, Marcos cited the “significant impact of the Philippine diaspora on our motherland, especially in terms of supporting our post-pandemic economic recovery.”
The President asked the Filipinos in North America to continue investing in the country, be it through more remittances, travel tours in the country, or real estate investments in condominiums and homes. Even small businesses such as sari-sari stores, eateries and local transportation are welcome and appreciated by fellow Filipinos, he said.
“This will all contribute to creating much-needed jobs and build a better life for all our people. And if you know someone who is interested in opening a business in the Philippines, let our embassies or our consulates know so we can pursue and finally close the deal. As I said, every little bit counts,” Bongbong Marcos said.
Perhaps Filipinos abroad may be more easily convinced than foreign businessmen, because of the nation’s emotional attachment to them. But still, incentives to business should be provided by the government, such as competitive prices and supply of electricity, good roads and bridges, ease of doing business, etc. Only then will businessmen and OFWs with savings to invest would come in.
