Towards an inclusive, better world: 2015 APEC Philippines
AS patriotic and forwardlooking Filipinos, we all hope for maximum success for the Filipino people in our hosting of the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, which consists of 21 nation-economies and whose leaders will gather in Manila on 18-19 November.
Its goal for a better, more inclusive world by way of a totally successful 2015 APEC meeting in the Philippines compels each wellmeaning Pinoy/Pinay to contribute a meaningful share, however modest, to that success. This means that the Filipino people should support 2015 APEC with our best efforts.
Unfortunately, it is obvious from the physical realities that Metro Manila’s eyesores are being hidden from APEC visitors as mandated by the P.Noy Administration’s recent “macro-controls” such as no-flight/ no-travel/no-sail zones in certain areas at certain times – or in the usual blunt words of the
star journalist Jarius Bondoc (06 November 2015):
Schools will be suspended for four days in Metro Manila; Government NCR offices will also be on forced leave for four days, and private companies for two non-working holidays. Thousands of international and domestic flights will be cancelled because of no-fly zones over most of Luzon. At certain times, Manila’s surrounding seaports will be closed. Parts of EDSA and the whole of Roxas Boulevard will be for the exclusive use of the 21 summiteers plus their coterie of 7,000 ministers, aides, staff assistants, spouses, and media people. Beggars and street children will be hauled away to “hideaways.”
Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo confirmed that the DSWD is giving Metro Manila homeless families 4,000 each to “rent a temporary home” in order to be out of the streets and out of sight during the APEC Summit.
IN EFFECT, METRO MANILA WILL BE SHUT DOWN FOR THE 2015 APEC. ITS 15 MILLION RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO STAY HOME, OR KILL TIME IN MALLS FAR FROM THE CONFAB SITES, OR BE WAY OUT IN THE PROVINCES. THE ECONOMIC COSTS, AND INCOME LOSSES OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DAILY WAGE EARNERS MATTER NOT. BUSINESSMEN, OFWs, AND VACATIONERS WHO HAVE LONG PLANNED TO FLY IN OR OUT DURING APEC WEEK WILL HAVE TO REBOOK.
Bilateral Meetings; State Visits
It is hoped that in the 2015 APEC series, PNoy will be able to push through with several bilaterals to acquire more traction and mileage in the effort to maximize Philippine benefits through our hosting of foreigners.
In actual practice, it is the bilateral meetings (delegationto-delegation) or the “four eyes” (one-on-one) closed-door encounters – and related State Visits that score real gains in crowded international conferences. According to DFA sources, a Philippines–US bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the Leader’s Summit is being negotiated, as well as 10 more such events – but no P.Noy - Xi Jinping meeting is contemplated.
IN FVR’S EXPERIENCE, THE PRE-ARRANGED THREE-DAY STATE VISIT OF CHINA PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN STARTING 26 NOVEMBER 1996, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SUBIC APEC SUMMIT, WAS THE HIGH POINT OF THAT PRODUCTIVE PERIOD.
China’s News Agency on-line article “Sino-Philip pines Relations” recalled (11 November 2015):
But as Chief Editor Ana Marie Pamintuan reported, diplomatic interactions need not always be formal affairs with strict protocols (Philippine Star, 01 October 2014):
THAT’S AT LEAST 90% CORRECT – BECAUSE WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WAS THAT PRESIDENT JIANG STAYED FOR THREE MORE DAYS FOR A PRE-ARRANGED STATE VISIT. RAMOS TOOK HIM ON A MANILA BAY CRUISE ON THE RPS “ANG PANGULO”, DURING WHICH JIANG LEARNED WELL-KNOWN POP SONG “LOVE ME TENDER” BY ELVIS PRESLEY AND THE TRADITIONAL “LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART”, AS HE REQUESTED. PRESIDENT JIANG HAD WANTED TO IMPRESS PRESIDENT CLINTON DURING HIS FORTHCOMING STATE VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE FIVE MONTHS HENCE. FVR, HOWEVER, VETOED JIANG’S DESIRE TO LEARN ALSO THE “TOP OF THE WORLD” (BY THE CARPENTERS) BECAUSE… “THAT MIGHT START WORLD WAR III….,” SAID FVR.
APEC Highlights
Continuing last Sunday’s list of annual APEC milestones, one can see that, through the years, each hosteconomy achieved its respective summit goals – including our own in 1996, without APEC-related disruptions in the lives of local citizens, thus:
1997 – Vancouver, Canada: APEC endorsed a proposal for Early Voluntary Sectoral Liberalization (EVSL) in 15 sectors and decides that Individual Action Plans should be updated annually.
1998 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: APEC agreed on the first nine sectors for EVSL and sought an EVSL agreement with non-APEC members at the World Trade Organization.
1999 – Auckland, New Zealand: APEC committed to paperless trading by 2005 in developed economies and 2010 in developing economies, and a Framework for the Integration of Women in APEC is endorsed.
2000 - Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: APEC established an electronic Individual Action Plan (e-IAP) system, providing IAPs online and committed to the Action Plan for the New Economy, which aims to triple Internet access throughout APEC region by 2005.
2001 – Shanghai, China: APEC adopted the Shanghai Accord on Broadening the APEC Vision and Strengthening the Implementation Mechanism. APEC’s first CounterTerrorism Statement was issued.
2002 – Los Cabos, Mexico: APEC’s second Counter-Terrorism Statement was delivered, along with the adoption of the Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) Initiative.
2003 – Bangkok, Thailand: APEC agreed to re-energize the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations and stressed APEC-WTO complementarity. APEC pledged to take specific actions to dismantle terrorist groups, eliminate the danger of weapons of mass destruction and confront other security threats.
2004 – Santiago, Chile: APEC reiterated its “unmistakable resolve” to confront the threat of terrorism, and established guidelines on the control of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). APEC made a political commitment to fight corruption and ensure transparency.
2005 – Busan, South Korea: APEC adopted the Busan Roadmap, completed the Mid-Term Stocktake which has found that APEC is well on its way to meeting the Bogor Goals. Leaders issued a stand-alone statement to confront pandemic health threats and to fight terrorism.
2006 - Hanoi, Vietnam: APEC Leaders endorsed the Hanoi Action Plan which identifies specific actions and milestones to implement the Bogor Goals and support capacitybuilding measures to help APEC economies.
2007 – Sydney, Australia: For the first time, APEC issued a Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development outlining future actions and new international arrangements.
2008 – Lima, Peru: APEC focused on the social dimensions of trade and reducing the gap between developing and developed members, in accordance with the 2008 theme, “A New Commitment to Asia-Pacific Development”.
2009 – Singapore: APEC resolved to pursue balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth, while Leaders agreed to extend their standstill commitment on protectionism until 2010.
2010 – Yokohama, Japan: APEC Leaders issued the Yokohama Vision to provide a roadmap for members to realize an economically-integrated, robust and secure APEC community -including a comprehensive, long-term growth strategy.
2011 – Honolulu, U.S.: APEC Leaders issued the Honolulu Declaration toward a seamless regional economy, and shared green growth objectives. APEC set the goal to reduce aggregate energy intensity by 45% by 2035.
2012 – Vladivostok, Russia: APEC endorsed a ground-breaking List of Environmental Goods that positively contributes to green growth and sustainable development. Leaders endorsed the APEC Model Chapter on Transparency for Regional Trade Areas/Free Trade Areas (RTAs/FTAs).
2013 – Bali, Indonesia: APEC provided the push to enhance regional connectivity thru an APEC Multi-Year Plan on Infrastructure Development and Investment, and issued directives to promote women entrepreneurship.
2014 – Beijing, China: APEC Leaders committed to take a concrete step towards greater regional economic integration by endorsing the vision of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). Recognizing the importance of promoting diversified energy supplies, APEC economies agreed to work toward doubling the share of renewables by 2030 in the region’s energy mix.
FINAL PRAYER: THIS TIME, WE PRAY FOR TOTAL SUCCESS FOR 2015 APEC WITH NO EMBARRASSING INCIDENTS. NEXT TIME, WE HOPE ALL MEMBERS/ STAKEHOLDERS OF THE PHILIPPINE TEAM – NOT JUST THE ELITE – BECOME THE BENEFICIARIES, NOT THE EYESORES!! CAN WE MAKE THE NEXT SIMILAR MULTINATIONAL OPPORTUNITY MORE INCLUSIVE – NOT EXCLUSIVE???