US traders urged to spread word that it’s safe in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ top diplomat in the United States has urged the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) to help Manila convince the State Department to reconsider the travel warning it issued against the Philippines that placed the country in the category of dangerous nations.

Speaking before the AmCham in Makati on Wednesday, Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. said it is “ironic” that the US government has placed the Philippines in the same category as North Korea, Somalia, Pakistan, South Sudan, Mali and Haiti upon the recommendation of the US embassy in Manila.

Cuisia called on AmCham members to help spread the word about how safe it is for foreign businessmen and tourists to visit the Philippines.

“It may surprise you to know that for several years now, the US has issued a travel warning on the Philippines,” Cuisia said, referring to the latest advisory issued early this year by the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the State Department.

The last advisory dated Jan. 30, 2013 warned US citizens of the risks of traveling to the Philippines, particularly in the Sulu archipelago and Mindanao due to threats of terrorist and insurgent activities.

The United Kingdom also advised against all travel to southwest Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago for the same reasons.

The advisory of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said there is a threat of kidnapping, particularly in southern Philippines. It also said that foreigners were targeted in rural, urban and coastal areas in the past.

Cuisia said the Philippines is enhancing its defense capabilities to be able to play a bigger role in ensuring regional stability, and that President Aquino has approved the release of an additional P75 billion as part of efforts to build up a minimum credible defense posture for the country.

Last December, the President signed the new Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act, allocating P75 billion for its first five years of implementation.

Cuisia said the amount, which is on top of the P28 billion that has been released since Aquino assumed office three years ago, would be used to procure fighter and transport aircraft, helicopters, naval vessels and other assets for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“During the past 15 years, only a total of P33 billion was spent by the three previous administrations, compared to the P28 billion released since 2010 and the additional P75 billion that will be spent in the next four years,” Cuisia said.

Cuisia also said that part of the budget for defense spending went to the upgrade of the vessels BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, two high-endurance cutters from the US Coast Guard.

“We work closely with the United States, our country’s only treaty ally, on mechanisms that will ensure that our security arrangements remain relevant and mutually beneficial,” Cuisia said.

“This part of our job has assumed increasing importance, in view of the security challenges in our region and the US rebalancing to Asia, particularly the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea, where an estimated $1.3 trillion in US trade flows through annually,” he said.