FRIEND OR FOE

ASEAN INTEGRATION, to be implemented in 2015,  will bring about fair trade and equal opportunity to all its member states. This will mean that, there will be free, unimpeded flow of goods, services, investment and labor among its member states. But, this will also usher in fierce competition in business. Innovation, prices and technology will be the deciding factor. Our skilled workers can have a lot more opportunity as they can work anywhere in the region. But are they at par with other skilled workers from other Member States? Will it bring about more opportunity or just more competition? Will we bask in the sunshine of development or will it be a dog eats dog world come 2015?

Republic Act No. 7157, otherwise known as "Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991”, provides for the 3 pillars of Foreign Policy:

1. Preservation and enhancement of national security

2. Promotion and attainment of economic security

3. Protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare and interest of Filipinos overseas.

Economic Security

On one hand, it will be a good opportunity for the Philippines to expand its economic reach, bringing in more businesses and investments in the Philippines. On the other hand, our Filipino First policy might present a crisis for our local policies. Embracing foreign business will usher in more jobs, more stable economic income, and faster growth in our economic development. But, having the foreign business giants here can also mean the end for our own small and medium enterprises as they will have no means to keep up with the competition. How then will we reconcile the Integration with our Filipino First Policy?

Protection of rights, welfare and interest of Filipinos Overseas

Member states will be open for skilled workers. They will not need to undergo the rigorous process of applying for the necessary working permits to work abroad. But it will also be true to skilled workers of other member states. What will be the edge of our skilled workers? Will other skilled workers be favoured by businesses in the Philippines, if they have more to offer? What will be the criteria for choosing skilled workers? Will there be a specific set of standards in terms of skills and compensation? Or will it still be at the discretion of businesses? In protecting the rights, welfare and interest of the Filipinos abroad, what will be the stand of the government in addressing rampant discrimination against Filipinos abroad, especially in Singapore?

Preservation and enhancement of national security

With us opening the doors wide open to our co-member states, how will the government keep us safe from foreign attacks? The Integration will make way for an open and free flow of goods, services, investments and labor. People and things will constantly be in and out of our country. Ports of entry will be overflowing. The number of imported goods will probably go up, way up.  A more strict security measures will be needed. Will the government be able to provide for the necessary security measures? How about the current dispute with Malaysia over Sabah? How will it affect the Integration? Or rather, how will the Integration affect the Sabah situation?

No doubt that this Integration will bring about change. But we must ask: will this change be for our own benefit, or will we be eaten up by our neighbors? Will this be a friendly economic development? Or will this be a dog eats dog world from now on? Can we keep up?

I don’t have much to say. I only have questions that need to be answered. And, whether they be answered or not, there is a certainty that we need to brace ourselves for this huge change. Is the Integration for the better or for the worse of our country? Only time can tell.