MANILA, Philippines — In the first 100 days that Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has been president, his administration was able to drive home an unequivocal message on the West Philippine Sea and ask for executive clemency on behalf of detained OFW Mary Jane Veloso.
Julio Amador, founder and CEO of Amador Research Services, said one of the highlights of the first 100 days of the Marcos administration is the now clear stance on how the Philippines will approach the West Philippine Sea issue with China.
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The 2016 Hague ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping nine-dash claims over areas of the West Philippine Sea and ruled that it is under the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
However, Beijing continues to insist that it is “illegal, null, and void.” The Philippines has filed hundreds of diplomatic protests against China’s enroachment of its sovereignty while at sea.
On the historic ruling’s sixth anniversary, the Philippines through the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; nay, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories.”
The Philippines says the findings are indisputable: “We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; nay, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories. At the same time we welcome the support of a growing list of countries for the Award.” @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/trYFtmSHf2
— Kaycee Valmonte (@kayceevalmonte) July 11, 2022
"The statement by DFA supported by many government agencies, followed by the president's strong statement on the South China Sea is a highlight given that there is no doubt anymore as to where we stand on this critical issue," Amador told Philstar.com.
The Philippines also hosted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in October, where Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo welcomed the possibility of holding joint patrols with the US in the West Philippine Sea as provided under the two countries’ Mutual Defense Treaty. Blinken also reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad commitment” to the MDT.
Despite this, Amador saidf the government should already release a document detailing priorities on the international front.
“A national security policy which clearly states our foreign policy priorities is a document that needs to be issued soon,” Amador said.
Overseas trips
It was a busy September for Marcos — with his first state visits to Indonesia and Singapore during the first half of the month and a working trip to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly in the second half.
The government brought home a possible P800-billion worth of investment pledges from its state visits in neighboring Asian countries. Meanwhile, it was during his UNGA speech when the Philippines made a bid for a UN Security Council seat for the term 2027 to 2028.
“The state visits to Indonesia and Singapore, along with the successful UN visit also showed that the Philippines is reengaging the international community. How this translates into diplomatic support should be carefully watched,” Amador said.
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The president was recently in hot waters for flying to Singapore for the Formula One Grand Prix just days after Super Typhoon Karding battered parts of Luzon. The Palace only broke its silence on Marcos’ weekend getaway after Singaporian Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng posted a photo with the president.
Executive clemency for Veloso
Meanwhile, it was also during Marcos’ state visit to Indonesia when the Philippines through SFA Manalo requested executive clemency on behalf of Mary Jane Veloso, an OFW detained there for over a decade now after she was caught smuggling heroin in 2010. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said she will consult the Indonesian Ministry of Justice on the matter.
WATCH: Kamusta na kaya si Mary Jane Veloso?
“The only way to prevent another Veloso is to have quality and decent jobs in the country,” UP Political Science professor Jean Encinas-Franco told Philstar.com.
Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that more Filipinos were jobless in August with 2.68 million unemployed, higher than the 2.6 million jobless rate recorded in July.
Filipino professionals typically go overseas for better opportunities and higher salaries in order to support their families. Labor group Federation of Free Workers pointed out that the uncertainty of employment and low wages back home are some of the paintpoints of an everyday employee.
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The so-called labor export program was introduced under the administration of Marcos' father as a stop-gap measure to counter the country’s unemployment problem.
Jeremiah Opinionano, executive director at Institute for Migration and Development Issues, previously told Philstar.com that the measure was also “a response to this growing need by countries for workers, which the Philippines responded [to].”
Nevertheless, the issue of having quality employment back home has persisted through the years. Data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration show that around 255,429 Filipinos went overseas in the first 100 days of the Marcos administration alone.
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Migrant Workers Susan “Toots” Ople already addressed criticisms, saying in one of her first interviews that “people go where the jobs are, people go where their families will be financially sustained and resilient."
Migrant workers department's first 100 days
Despite being the “youngest” member of the government, the Department of Migrant Workers touted some of its accomplishments in the first 100 days. Some of these include being able to open up more employment opportunities abroad for Filipinos, programs dedicated to OFW children, and a faster repatriation response system.
Ople in her first press briefing as the head of the new agency said one of their main priorities was to make processes easier for OFWs through digitalization. She also said she will lead the DMW’s Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons (TF-AIRTIP) in a bid to prioritize the administration’s fight against illegal trafficking.
She also recently led a delegation to Saudi Arabia to iron out issues on the deployment of household service employees and construction workers. The trip resulted in the lifting of the Philippines deployment ban to KSA beginning November 7.
Aside from talks with the kingdom, the Philippines is also is studying several possible bilateral agreements as more countries from Eastern Europe have expressed interest in hiring OFWs. However, professor Encinas-Franco raised that these deals should always put forward the safety and security of OFWs.
“Bilateral agreements must emphasize the protection aspect and not just the recruitment side. From both ends, there must be a monitoring mechanism so that there is an oversight on implementation,” Encinas-Franco said.
“Negotiations must also be transparent and inclusive of civil service organizations and migrant groups and advocates.”
Read other explainers on Marcos' first 100 days:
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- In first 100 days in office, Marcos rejects hopes for Philippines rejoining ICC
- The 'war on drugs' quietly continues 100 days into Marcos administration
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