EC/OP/1/1

Diplomatic League

Executive Council1 April 2016 / English

Foreign Policy Recommendation

National Security

1. Emphasis on Soft Power and Public Diplomacy

The Diplomatic League sees it proper for the Philippines to focus its efforts in maintaining national security through soft power. Although we don’t discount the fact that developing our military and other means of defense is of paramount importance, military development is a long process, and to address issues that requires immediate resolution, using soft power is a powerful means. Thus we should look at different means on how we could strengthen and utilize our soft power. This can either be done through economic or cultural means and one great platform to perform this is within ASEAN. The Philippines can showcase its culture through exchange programs, culture and tourism fairs, festivals, cultural forum, and media exposure whether it be about food, music, or clothing. In public diplomacy and nation branding, it is vital that a country project a positive image of itself to the global arena. As the Philippines, have a large number of overseas Filipino workers, NGOs and/or other government agencies may tap these migrant workers to become an active partner in the promotion of the country’s soft power and public diplomacy. These OFWs may be able to organize themselves and work with the government in creating a better image of the Philippines and thereby enhancing its relations with other countries, particularly the host state where these migrant workers currently reside. Furthermore, tourism and the social media may also be utilized for cultural diplomacy and nation branding.

2. West Philippine Sea Dispute

The problem with WPS greatly escalated in the last half decade, yet we still haven’t devised a resolution. The Diplomatic League would like to propose the following recommendations: 1) Creation of a comprehensive national strategy for the West Philippine Sea – one that involves not only the DFA and the DND, but all the other agencies concerned with the maritime domain. This will help in creating a real concerted effort by the Philippines for this security issue, and will be pivotal for harmonizing all efforts of the diplomatic, military, and economic instruments of Philippine national power; 2) Continued engagement with China – the issue on the West Philippine Sea is not the end-all and be-all of Sino-Philippine relations. Considering that China is now and will remain one of the most powerful neighbors of the Philippines, we should consider improving our other ties such as trade and people-to-people exchange; and 3) Review policies and pronouncements regarding the West Philippine Sea – especially those regarding the improvement of facilities in Pag-asa Island and all other Filipino settlements there. It is not a question of military operations; it should be recognized as humanitarian cause since we have a functioning municipality (Kalayaan) with numerous civilians there. We should review policies and pronouncements to see if they are serving the purpose of safeguarding our interests (which includes our citizens’ lives), or if they are counter-productive to us securing these interests.

3. Peacekeeping Efforts

In light of the forthcoming change of administration and recognizing the need to continuously improve the country’s participation in UN peace operations, the following recommendations were made. The Philippines should commit more troops and police to be deployed as UN peacekeepers. Given that participation is highly beneficial especially in strengthening the security sector, the gains are worth increasing the country’s deployments. For the country’s efficient and effective participation in UN peace operations, there must be annual funds allocated by the General Appropriations Act to specifically support the endeavor. Indeed, there is the UN Reimbursement Fund that covers all expenses related to UN peacekeeping participation. However, the national government must first provide the funds needed to acquire the necessary equipment and to commence the training programs peacekeepers are required to undergo. It is also recommended that the country’s permanent representative to the UN continue to emphasize the need to thoroughly review all aspects of UN peace operations, including responses to kidnapping of peacekeepers. Lastly, the administration must urge the deployment of a UN peacekeeping

force to the Philippines for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples (IPs).

Economic Security

1. Increasing Investments (FDI/PI)

Observing the facts and present situations of the country, the authors strongly recommend that Economic provisions in the Constitution must be revised in order for the Philippines to cope with the demands of globalization and regional economic integration. As the Congress plans push for the Constitutional amendments in the 17th Session, it is a challenged for the next President to persuade the people by which will approve the constitutional reform. The authors suggest that while the Congress is doing their job on constitutional revision, the next set of leaders in the Executive branch should conduct massive information awareness on the rationale and benefits of amending the economic provision of the highest law of the land. While the brewing of Constitutional reform is still pending, the government should continue to address the concerns of the business sector, primarily on infrastructure, security, and red tape. These problems if eradicated will lessen the cost of doing business in the country, therefore inviting more foreign investments in the country.

2. Harmonization of domestic laws

The Philippines acknowledge the large impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement on Philippine trade and trade policy as this FTA expand in a region that represents almost 40% of the World’s GDP and having a huge scope and scale of its liberalization since negotiating partners have expressed an intent to comprehensively reduce barriers in goods, services, and agricultural trade. Due to the fact that the creation of this formidable bloc will affect the local economy, as it will on the rest of the world, it is important that the Philippines will monitor and study the progress of negotiations whether the country will become part of Trans-Pacific Partnership. In line with the country’s keen interest to join the TPP agreement, the state shall make it clear that there are reservations properly and specifically declared and mentioned before it fully commits to the agreement. This will purport to exclude or to modify the legal obligation and the TPP’s effects on the reserving state. The Committee of Foreign Relations and the Foreign Affairs shall ensure that all signatories on the agreement are aware of the mentioned reservations, since it cannot pick and select which measures to honor and which to

disregard and cannot derogate from the terms that the President agreed to and the Senate concurred in once the Philippines solely honors the TPP agreement’s terms and conditions. The Philippines has the authority to limit its treaty obligations through reservations, while, other member-countries or signatories to the TPP have the option to accept those reservations, object to them, or object and oppose them. The reservation shall be considered as a limitation on the commitment undertaken by the Philippines.

3. Infrastructure Development

4. Energy Policy

5. Potential for Trade

A free trade agreement between the Philippines and the European Union is beneficial to the Philippine economy, particularly the agricultural sector which is the most important sector. Moreover, elimination of bilateral tariffs will not only yield economic benefits but social as well. The free trade agreement of the United States and the Philippines is also beneficial for the country’s economic security.

Assistance to Nationals

1. ATN Budget

This research recommends for the ATN budget to be increased to 500 Million Pesos. The research recommends that the increase should be based on actual statistics. This means that the increase will actually depend on how much is really needed. Therefore this research would like to emphasize the proper reallocation of the ATN budget. Specifically discussing how much money is needed in a specific factor. The ATN budget should also adjust to how many its subjects will be. Therefore, the ATN budget won’t have a permanent figure but instead, it’ll adjust depending on how much is actually needed.

2. Reopening of Consulates and Embassies

There are currently around 68 Philippine Embassies throughout the world that is more than willing to help our Filipino overseas. These Embassies are actually positioned in multiple countries in the world wherein there are thousands of Filipino currently staying at. There is an official record from the Commission on Filipino Overseas that states which country we have the most Filipino overseas. Actually, there are already established Embassies in the countries that have the most number of Filipino overseas.

Considering that there are already established Diplomatic and Consular missions abroad in the states that the Philippines had the most number of Filipino overseas, this research therefore only recommends that emphasis should be given to reopening the closed embassies and not opening new ones. The jobs under the closed embassies are actually still running but only under some major embassies. These researches therefore recommends that these embassies shall be reopened considering that transactions are still running. It will still be feasible and safe to have an embassy for the good of the bilateral relations of the two states.

3. Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs

The recommendations would be preventive measures for OFW distress as well measures on addressing this distress. There must be tight monitoring and adding of personnel on mode of transportation which serves as escape route for illegal activities and also there must be proper orientation for OFWs. Moreover, measures to address OFW distress are as follows: adding more government employees assigned for assisting the OFWs in distress, including, legal officers, counselors, and health workers; and having an available temporary relocation area to raise the trust and convenience for an OFW to report maltreatment immediately. Absence of a safe relocation area tends to make OFW’s resort to stay on the house of the violators where they are employed since they might think they have nowhere to go.

4. ATN Financial Coverage

The government must formulate more specific and applicable provisions that could efficiently and effectively be applied to address the need of the Nationals (OFWs/ Migrant Workers) focusing more on having findings and budget allotted only for the purpose of assisting them in times of severe crisis and scenarios; allocate specific body in the foreign office to handle cases specifically on the Assistance to the Nationals; and strengthen the protection and security of Migrant workers to aid and prevent the worsening cases of health and medication insufficiencies and problems and at worst cases, death of any form of the Migrant workers.