Amid the much-publicized conflict between the camp of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the incumbent administration, President Benigno Aquino III still managed to meet up with South Korea’s President, Lee Myung Bak, to further strengthen bilateral ties.
Coming straight from the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) summit in Bali, Indonesia, the South Korean President came to the country last 21 November 2011 and signed five bilateral agreements with President Aquino the day after at the Malacañang.
Aimed at strengthening the countries’ economies as well as trade cooperation, the five agreements included the granting of a $500-million loan to the Philippines within 2011-2013. Philippines also nodded on the framework arrangement befitting Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)’s personnel and equipment brought in connection with grant projects.
Three memoranda of understanding (MOU) were also signed by both countries. The MOU comprise of the agreement between the Philippine’s Department of Energy (DOE) and South Korea’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy; the MOU between the Philippine’s Department of Agriculture (DA) and South Korea’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery; and the understanding between the DA and the Export-Import Bank of South Korea on the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Stage II (JRMP-II)
Aside from improving the economic state of the country, President Aquino also ceased the opportunity and expressed the Philippine’s interest in buying the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s needed defense equipments from South Korea.
To date, over 20,000 overseas Filipino workers are in South Korea and about 115,000 Koreans are permanently residing in the Philippines. As if these numbers of tourist were not enough, critics urged the Aquino administration to shift their attention on how to entice more tourists to visit the country instead of focusing too much on the case of former President Arroyo.
Ivan Henares, vice president of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS), said in a report from GMA News last 22 July 2011, that Aquino should let the courts deal with the alleged anomalies of the previous administration and “start focusing on his term.”
Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, likewise said last 12 November 2011 over Radyo Veritas that there are more problems the state should be focusing on. He further stressed that there is a “correct process” and “right court” that can make the former president pay for her alleged sins.
Former president, Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo is bound to face trial before the court for charges of poll fraud, a crime punishable by life in prison. Her arrest became a tug-of-war drama last 18 November 2011 when the Supreme Court decided to let her travel abroad for a bone treatment. The Department of Justice prevented her from leaving the airport. An arrest warrant later came from the lower court which ultimately kept her from leaving. She is currently held under hospital arrest.
While others are convinced that all President Aquino does is keep an eagle eye on his accused predecessor, the words of President Lee proved to be otherwise. In his speech, Lee has agreed to help make the Philippines “improve” its “business and environment conditions” so as to attract more Korean firms to come and visit the Philippines.
One of the reasons why President Aquino won the hearts of many Filipinos was because of his sincere promise to weed out the corrupt in the government. The overwhelming votes that poured for him was proof enough that Filipinos wanted to see action behind that promise. While considered as Aquino’s “bosses,” Filipinos should realize that not all matters can be done in haste. As president, he is tasked to think about the needs of the many; and for that he has to contemplate his every move so every Filipino can be served what they are due before the his term ends.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(NYNJ Nov 26-29, 2011 Sec A pg.6)
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