23 JULY 2004 – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today stressed that her “foreign policy consists in protecting the interest of the Philippines by responding to eight realities in the global and regional environment.”

Speaking during the 106th Foundation Day of the Department of Foreign Affairs at the Bulwagang Mabini, President Arroyo, the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy, cited these eight realities, as follows:

                    1. China, Japan and the United States have a determining influence in the security situation and economic evolution of East Asia.
                    2. More and more Philippine foreign policy decisions have to be made in the context of ASEAN.
                    3. The International Islamic community will become more and more important to the Philippines.
                    4. The coming years will see the redefinition of the role of multilateral and inter-regional organizations in promoting     common interests.
                    5. The defense of the nation’s sovereignty, the protection of its environment and natural resources can be carried out only to the extent that we get others to respect our rights over our maritime territory.
                    6. The country’s economic growth will continue to require direct foreign investment.
                    7. The Philippines can benefit most quickly from international tourism.
                    8. Filipinos overseas will continue to play a critical role in the country’s economic and social stability.

In response to these eight realities abroad, the President declared that her “focus has been to protect the vital interest of the nation, including our eight million overseas Filipinos.   Our government deeply cares for our Filipinos overseas and their families and will do all it can to keep them from harm.”

The President’s foreign policy speech was the highlight of the day-long observation of the DFA’s Foundation Day.     “It’s appropriate that we hold your Foundation Day on the birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini,” the President said. “We remember him today as the political mind that helped shape the directions of a nascent nation at a time of historic change, much like our foreign relations today are immersed in the shifting tides of a changing world.”

President Arroyo stated that she was elected to protect the interest of the Philippines, and her foreign policy reflects that commitment. In reaffirming the eight realities surrounding the Philippine foreign policy, the President highlighted the strategic importance of the RP-US alliance and the role of the Filipino Overseas Workers in nation building.     “The last three years in particular, saw a close partnership between the Philippines and the United States. I’m pleased that the Philippines and the US embarked on board security cooperation to address the issues of terrorism, illegal narcotics trade, human trafficking and other transnational crimes,” President Arroyo said. “Despite the domestic problems that it sometimes causes, the security alliance with the United States is on the average, a strategic asset for the Philippines.”

The President said that much of the Philippine economy would continue to be dependent on overseas workers remittances.

“On the basis of their contribution, and aside from that, on the basis of our nation’s humanitarian responsibility to our people wherever they are, our government works doubly hard to strengthen our overseas workers protection – protection from the depredations of domestic recruiters as well as of overseas employers, agents and officials, and protection from harm,” the President said. “Therefore, on this day that we have dedicated, not only to Apolinario Mabini, not only to the founding of the Department of Foreign Affairs, but on this day for this year, thanksgiving for the safe return of Angelo de la Cruz.”

President Arroyo addressed what she stated were two “global realities,” namely the reality of the United States, and the reality of Overseas Filipinos. She said that she has committed the nation to join the fight against global terrorism in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and this included the sending of a small humanitarian and peacekeeping force to Iraq to help in its post-war reconstruction.

“I am proud of the work our contingent has done. But proud as I am of their work, I do not regret having our contingent come home a few days early to protect our broader interest, which is the safety of our overseas workers, including Angelo de la Cruz,” the President stated. “I trust that our allies will come to understand that the Philippines is in a special circumstance. Unlike the US, Australia, Bulgaria and other countries, we have 1.5 billion Filipinos who live and work in the Middle East and 4,000 of them are working in Iraq today. The lives and livelihood of these courageous OFWs is hazardous enough without the threat of being held as a political pawn in some terrorists’ chess game.”

The President said that she took into consideration the fact that the 4,000 workers in Iraq are more valuable to the reconstruction efforts than the small Philippine humanitarian and peacekeeping contingent. She said that compared to the troops of the coalition, these OFWs, especially those who are truck drivers and construction workers, are far more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

“That vulnerability, that threat has now been relieved as a result of anyway previously authorized departure of our Philippine troops. And while we are thankful for the release of Angelo, we must unite around our resolve to wipe out terrorism especially in the Philippines, but also in accordance with the international commitments especially under the United Nations and our alliances with our friends abroad. And I have braced the Filipino people for the prospect that we may not always have such a happy ending when it comes to terrorist situations,” President Arroyo said. “This is not a tale of politics. It is about human survival and diaspora, about poverty and families being torn apart and our will and resolve to bring food to every table.”

The President congratulated the DFA personnel for providing the best expertise in the implementation of her foreign policy.  She said: “The DFA personnel have in fact, time and again over my last three years as president, over the last three weeks, and even during the previous times when I was not yet president that I interacted with you, you have shown, indeed, that you have among the best brains in the country.  Congratulations to all of you.”

The President concluded her speech by thanking the DFA for the role they played during the Iraq Crisis stating that “there were those of you who braved great dangers to complete the mission (to save Angelo), and many more others who assisted the overall effort from the sidelines, from here at the DFA, from Malacanang, throughout the Middle East and here at home. I am grateful to you all.”

After delivering her speech, the President proceeded to Pangasinan where she heard mass with Angelo de la Cruz and his family. - END

NOTE: The full text of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s speech is available on the DFA website