THROUGH diplomacy, can the Philippines achieve sustainable economic growth and development?

This is something quite possible if we adhere to the concepts of sharing, cooperation and harmony among nations. “No man is an island”; everything and everyone is interconnected. And President Aquino  is cognizant of the need for the Philippines to join with other countries to develop diplomatic relationships and enter into trade and other agreements that will result in the attainment of mutual goals and benefits.

This month the President attended two highly significant meetings that will certainly have positive impacts upon the economy in the medium to long term. These were the 19th Apec summit meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the 19th Asean summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Perhaps because of the ubiquitous use of acronyms in the media, many might have forgotten that “Apec” means “Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.” It’s a forum composed of 21 Pacific Rim “member economies,” established, according to Wikipedia, in 1989  “in response to the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies.”

The organization’s aims are to “raise living standards and education levels through sustainable economic growth” and “foster a sense of community and an appreciation of shared interest” among Asia-Pacific countries.

Given the burgeoning population growth in the Pacific Rim nations, Apec members account for around “40 percent of the world’s population,” roughly “54 percent of the world’s gross domestic product, and about 44 percent of world trade.” That’s a formidable economic bloc.

In the speech he delivered upon his arrival from Hawaii, the President said that among the topics discussed at the summit were alternative-energy methods, the creation of jobs and business opportunities, and the maintenance of a stable economy in the region.

The President also reported that Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard awarded a million dollars in financial aid to various organizations, including the Philippine Red Cross, for the benefit of typhoon and calamity victims.

Other reports mentioned that Australia would also be helping the Philippines map the elevation of Metro Manila for a flood-control project in areas prone to extreme flooding. Recommendations will be made on how infrastructure in the city may be improved to reduce the risk to life and property that accompanies each harsh typhoon.

It was gratifying to note that in their 30-minute meeting, Prime Minister Gillard also “congratulated and applauded President Aquino for the success of his good governance.”

It was also in Hawaii that the President had a chance to speak with the representative of Chinese Taipei, on matters concerning the economy, inviting their businessmen to invest in the Philippines; he also announced that a United States company will start developing a natural- gas field in the northern part of the Philippines next year. “There are substantial gas deposits,” said the President, “that we believe are already on the proven scale that will dwarf the existing Malampaya oil fields.” This could mean another source of local, sustainable alternative energy in the near future.

Upon his return from Hawaii,the  President met with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who was in Manila for the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States. They discussed security matters.

The President left soon after that for Bali, to attend the Asean summit, which was graced by leaders from around the world, including US President Barack Obama. In a news bulletin released by the Department of Foreign Affairs, it was announced that President Obama “lauded President Benigno Aquino’s leadership and reformist policies” and noted that Philippine democracy and economy have become stronger under the Aquino administration. The American president also personally conveyed his invitation to Mr. Aquino for a meeting at the White House early next year.

Presidents Aquino and Obama also talked about maritime security, and how the Philippines needs to attain a “minimum deterrent capability” of a defensive nature for national safety and protection and to “ensure unimpeded trade and commerce in the region.”

It was also reported that “President Obama expressed appreciation to President Aquino for his anti-corruption efforts,” which the former cited as “very important” for the Open Government Partnership (OGP)—an Obama initiative to establish open, transparent and accountable governments. The Philippines is one of only eight countries invited to be a member of the OGP’s Steering Committee.”

President Obama said the “OGP is important in improving a country’s economic performance.” At the same time he “reaffirmed the US government’s commitment to the Partnership for Growth (PFG), which aims to unlock the Philippines’s potentials to achieve a sustained and broad-based economic growth.”

For his part, Mr. Aquino “thanked the Obama administration for its expressed interest in facilitating the Philippines’s eventual inclusion in the Trans-
Pacific Partnership Agreement or TPP—a platform for regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific.”

While in Bali, Mr.  Aquino signed the “Bali Concord 3,” which outlines Asean’s direction in politics, security, trade and the economy, and socio-cultural concerns, as well as procedures concerning early aid response for the victims of calamitous typhoons.

As we have seen recently, these typhoons afflict not only the Philippines, but neighboring countries such as Thailand and Cambodia, with deadly effect. Also agreed upon were mechanisms for member-countries to share rice with each other in case of devastation of harvests caused by typhoons.

In the President’s speech upon his arrival from Bali, he remarked how Obama conveyed admiration for the tuwid na landas or straight path of governance, with accountability and transparency.

Walking that straight path with a sound diplomatic policy of mutual cooperation between nations, we are on the way to a sustainable economy of growth and development. It will take time and we need to be patient, but at last we are getting there. Now that’s very good news, indeed.

Atty. Rojas is the general manager of the PCSO. Comments? E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .