HOUSE Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairman Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list has expressed confidence that the government will
continue to work on ensuring the country’s economic resilience and to attract more foreign direct investments (FDIs).
Acidre, a House Assistant Majority Leader, made the statement amid concerns about the negative impact on the economy of the retaliatory tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on more than 100 countries, including the Philippines.
At the same time, he urged concerned officials to make an in-depth analysis of the economic direction the U.S. is taking under Trump.
Acidre said he believes the Philippines is “not necessarily directly affected” by Trump’s retaliatory tariffs.
“Nandiyan ang OFW, nandiyan po ‘yung direct foreign investments sa ating bansa. Wala ho tayong nakikita, kasi usually sa exports po nagkakaroon ng epekto at maging ganun man, nakita rin natin hindi rin ganun kataas ang retaliatory tariff na i-impose sa ating exports mula sa Pilipinas,” Acidre, said.
“Ang sa akin na lang ho ay sana ito’y gamitin natin na panahon para magmatiyag, aralin ho natin saan po talaga papunta ang Estados Unidos. I think the most challenging thing about the situation, lahat ho naka-wait and see,” he said.
Here lies the importance of economic resilience, the Tingog lawmaker added.
“At dito po nakikita natin ang kahalagahan ng ating economic resilience. Dapat po sa mga susunod na taon at pagkakataon ay magkaroon ho ng mga hakbang upang mas lalo pang paigtingin ang ating economic resilience hindi lang ho sa pag diversify ng ating exports kundi, also sa pagpapalakas pa ng ating local industries at pag-attract pa ng mas maraming direct foreign investments,” he stressed.
He pointed out that it’s too early to project the real impact of Trump’s tariffs on the countries affected.
“Masyadong maaga po para maisip natin kung paano po talaga ito makaka-epekto at marahil…hindi lang sa Pilipinas o mga ekonomista, (they) are all in the wait and see situation. And yes, we might have little legroom para ma-address o gumawa ng hakbang sa aspetong ito,” Acidre said.
He reiterated that they key lies in building a resilient economy.
“Nonetheless, this is a wake-up call for us to continue to build on a more resilient domestic economy para din po kahit may mga ganitong pagsubok o ganitong challenges, eh kaya din natin punuan kung ano man,” he said.
“Malaking bagay po ang kontribusyon sa ating mga foreign workers, malaking bagay din po ang mga hakbang ng ating administrasyon para makakalap ng karagdagang trading partners hindi lang sa Estados Unidos kundi sa iba’t ibang bansa sa mundo,” Acidre said.
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