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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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MANILA – Sen. Franklin Drilon has encouraged the president to maintain the country’s “good relations” with economic partners like the United States and European Union.
While he supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for an independent foreign policy, Drilon said it can be pursued without cutting the overseas aid.
According to the senate pro-tempore, every year, the Philippines receives “billions” in foreign aid.
“Antagonizing multilateral institutions and having poor relations with other countries may have serious economic consequences,” he said.
Severing diplomatic relations with the EU, Drilon said, would lead to the exclusion from trade preferences, including those covered by the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
The scheme allows local producers to export their products at either zero tariff or at a preferential tariff rate, he explained.
“If the GSP is withdrawn, then our products become expensive and non-competitive in the areas where these products are exported,” Drilon said, also saying the country’s local tuna industry, which exports to EU markets, will be very much affected.
The solon from Iloilo City also said that having poor relations with the EU might affect the 25,000 Filipino seafarers in EU-registered vessels.
“If we lose these privileges, then it will adversely affect our economy, and in turn the livelihood of millions of our fellow countrymen,” Drilon ended./PN
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