Friday, November 28, 2014

ASEAN AFTA: Maximizing Opportunity of Economic Slavery


            Philippines foreign relations were indeed successful in resourcing additional revenue to the country. Thank you to our Over-seas Filipino Skilled Workers who played a big part to this success. Being far from home and their families was truly worth it. This could not be possible without the opportunity provided or engaged by our Government in doing their constitutional mandate of strengthening country’s foreign relations which created jobs abroad for filipinos.

            The Country is a member of ASEAN. In 2015 ASEAN plans to have ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) or its more recent transformation into ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS).[1] This strategic plan is definitely good in providing more opportunities for Filipinos. But this made me think that, this might prejudice our own country. Through this AFTA goods from other neighboring country can enter freely which offers cheaper price compared to our local goods. This would definitely affect the livelihood of our agricultural farmers. This is not a good indication of progress in our economy if our own people suffer from this kind of agreement. The other advantage that the government sought to this agreement is providing more opportunities abroad for our skilled workers. This is good because more families could upgrade their mode of lifestyle or living. But really! I think we miss something to this opportunity. The government will send skilled workers abroad for the benefit of the foreign country. So, what about us? I think the main goal here is to educate the people to contribute development or advancement to the country, not in the foreign state.

            Government’s vision in strengthening the foreign relations to boost country’s economy is not bad at all. But looking to the bigger picture AFTA prejudiced our own goods and services. I understand that the government wanted the best for us and for the economy. But for me this agreement is simply maximizing our opportunity of economic slavery or independence. When can we stand on our own?  




[1] http://asean.aim.edu/research/presentations/asean-integration-2015-is-the-philippines-ready-for-afta/

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