President Duterte has left for Cambodia and Singapore on Tuesday for a four-day state visits with the objective of establishing cohesive relationships with Association of South East Asian Nations countries and in line with the chairmanship of ASEAN and the holding of the summit in November next year.
“We are hosting the ASEAN Summit in 2017. I have to go around in ASEAN countries to formulate policies for the upcoming summit next year,” the President said in his departure speech as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday.
He also emphasized the importance of gathering the unified stand of ASEAN member countries in the midst of formation of blocks among world nations – the European Union and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation – World Trade Organization (APEC-WTO), are among those mentioned by the President.
“I have no clear idea of where we stand as a group of nations ,” President Duterte stressed.
He also hit the formation of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which the President said will create more disadvantages to countries like the Philippines.
TPP is a trade agreement among twelve nations within the so-called Pacific Rim, including the USA. The agreement was finalized on February 4, 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Based on its concept, TPP is aimed to promote economic growth; support the creation and retention of jobs; enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness; raise living standards; reduce poverty in the signatories’ countries; and promote transparency, good governance, and enhanced labor and environmental protections.
Aside from the US, other members of TPP include Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru.
President Obama recently treated TPP as a priority trade deal that need to be ratified but he was criticized by the US opposition stating that the trade agreement will only favour big businesses.
For his part, US President-elect Donald Trump has promised to abandon the TPP as soon as he takes office next year.
President Duterte expressed gratitude to the stand of Trump into the TPP as he sees negative impacts of the agreement into the economy of the Philippines.
“These state visits will reaffirm our relations with out close neighbours in South East Asia and seek to further strengthen our engagements with our brothers in ASEAN,” he said.
He said he will meet with King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia who invited him for the state visit.
The President recognized the long and deep ties between Philippines and Cambodia that served as strong foundations of friendship that must be renewed.
He will also meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss the ways to intensify bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual concerns.
The concerns will include defense, trade and investments, protection of Filipino workers, tourism, security and law enforcement and the war against trade of illegal drugs.
President Duterte added that he will also meet with Singapore President Tony Tan on his state visit to said country.
“Singapore and Philippines are exceptional but there are issues of mutual concerns we can work on especially on growth on areas where both governments need a safe and secure environment for businesses to thrive,” he said.
The President added he will also discuss the increase of levels of two-way trade with Singapore as he will seek to strengthen defense and security cooperation to address traditional and emerging threats that undermine progress.
Support to indigents, drug dependents
The President also announced he already released around P2 billion to support the medicines of indigent families in the country and the medications of drug dependents.
He said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) had turned over to him P5 billion funds recently.
“I am appropriating P1 billion through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide medicines to Filipinos especially those who are holding now medical prescriptions for the purchase of medicines,” the President said.
He instructed the indigents to proceed to the nearest DSWD office and ask for their medicines.
Support for the medication of drug dependents also got a separate P1 billion funding out of the total funds from PAGCOR, the President added.
He advised drug dependents, especially those who are now undergoing programs under the government to remain in their respective residences and wait for one or two days to process their medical support.
“Just stay in the house and I will order medical workers in the country to go around the areas to look for drug dependents who are undergoing treatments,” President Duterte said.
