Lawmakers seek clearer foreign, business policies
Two senators urged the Duterte administration to present clear foreign and business policies in order to make investors and the international community aware of what exactly they will be dealing with if ever they are thinking of coming over to the country.
Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said laying down a clear foreign policy direction is essential to building the economy as well as the overall development of the country.
“Given recent statements coming from the President and senior government officials, there is a need to clarify government’s position and engagements with its neighbors and allies,” he said.
“This is to assure the Filipino public and international community that we are pursuing a clear and coherent foreign policy that is most beneficial to the country,” he added.
Aquino has filed Senate Resolution No. 158, urging the government to clarify the country’s stand on different foreign policy issues amid varying statements by President Duterte and other administration officials.
He cited the contrasting claims by several government officials on different foreign policy issues , such as the conduct of joint maritime patrols and the American troops stationed in Mindanao.
“I hope we can clear up these conflicting statements soon so that our strategies to protect our territory and develop our economy are aligned with the administration,” Aquino said.
“Our relations with members of the international community have bearing on our ability to protect our territory and environment, develop our economy, and promote the welfare and well-being of our citizens,” he added.
On the part of Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto, he said the colorful language used by the President in his speeches should not bother investors but what would turn them off is any abrupt changes in rules of the game.
“They can perhaps live with a President who constantly curses for as long as government policies are consistent, and contracts, except fraudulent ones, are honored. They can live with a president who predictably swears for as long as the rules of business are predictable,” Recto said.
“For as long as the President’s verbal tirades do not metamorphose into official state policy, no great harm is done, except maybe to our sensitive ears. There is, however, a need to boost our global tourism PR drive to negate the bad press we are getting,” he added.