Kilusan.Net

The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said that it’s not enough that President Benigno Aquino III bring a lean entourage and spend less for his United States trip. The group said that outstanding issues on RP-US relations should also be addressed during the trip.
“Malacanang has announced that a lean entourage will go with Mr. Aquino to the US and that there will not be a repeat of the Le Cirque scandal of Mrs. Arroyo. But more on than the cost-cutting for the trip, we expect that the Philippine president will somehow address the issue of the unequal relations between the US and the Philippines,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

“The historic first trip should be an opportunity to address the outstanding problems with the Vesting Forces Agreement. National sovereignty should not be sacrificed just because the Philippine government will be asking for more foreign investments and grants from the US,” Reyes said.

Bayan said that among the issues they will be monitoring in the US trips would include:

1.    The VFA and US military aid for the Philippines
2.    US aid such as the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s $434 million RP grant
3.    A possible RP-US Free Trade Agreement
4.    Foreign investments

“The VFA is one proof that RP-US relations are unequal. It’s time the Philippine president stand for national interest and abrogate this one-sided pact. It is time the Philippine president demand the withdrawal of US forces in Mindanao. We support moves by the Philippine Senate, including a resolution filed by Sen. Miriam Santiago, calling for the termination of the VFA,” Reyes said.

As for the signing of the $434 million MCC grant, Bayan warned of the neo-liberal economic impositions that go along with such grants.

“The MCC was created and funded by the US government under George W. Bush. It is a foreign policy instrument that promotes discredited neo-liberal economic policies for third world countries in exchange for so-called aid. Its current board chair is the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton,” Reyes said.

According to its website, the MCC “partners only with countries that can show measurable support for a free and open political system with access to open markets. Only countries with proven track records in anti-corruption, civil liberties and the rule of law may partner with the MCC in crafting a development program unique to their local conditions.”

“These grants and so-called aid are used to advance US economic and political interests in the guise of promoting democracy and good governance. This is true now especially because the US economy is in crisis. In exchange for such grants, the US wants us to further open up our country, even to the point of a possible bilateral free trade agreement. The MCC grant in effect will only reinforce unequal and disadvantageous economic ties with the US,” he added.

On the issue of jobs and investments, Bayan cautioned that the US economy remains in a deep and prolonged recession. It questioned the tact of trying to seek more investments and jobs from a country already reeling from recession.

“There are limits to the investments and jobs available for the Philippines, especially now that the US economy itself is in crisis. It is strange that the Philippine government continues to pin its hopes on the US economy in spite this economic crisis. The Philippine government should be exploring ways to strengthen and develop our domestic economy and national industries, and decrease our dependence on foreign investments,” Reyes said. ###