Ellen Tordesillas
from: Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/01082010/edtorde.html
‘His handlers have decided to limit his exposure to protect his lead.’
ON Jan. 14, the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation, Asian Institute of Management, and ABS News Channel will hold a foreign policy forum featuring presidential candidates and will focus on Philippine credibility and competitiveness in the world.
The forum takes special signifiicance at this time when world has to deal with the twin threats of terrorism and economic recession and the Philippines carries additional burden of resources strained by recent calamities and a notorious reputation of lawlessness.
Liberal Party presidential candidate Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who is leading in all election surveys, has declined the invitation to participate in the forum. Surprisingly, Nacionalista Party presidential bet Manny Villar, who used to have a phobia with presidential fora, has agreed to attend.
This is not the first time that Aquino would be snubbing a foreign-policy related forum. He was also a no-show in the forum on Millennium Development Goals co-sponsored by the MDG Campaign and the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.
Aquino’s avoidance of the Jan. 14 event gives credence to talks that since he was not impressive in the few presidential fora, his handlers have decided to limit his exposure to protect his lead.
I guess Noynoy’s campaign strategists have devised other ways for him to inform the voters what substance can they expect from his presidency. They can’t be just relying on Facebook and other social networks, which everybody knows are maintained by other people and not by the candidate himself.
Anyway, the two-hour forum will be held at the AIM Bldg in Makati starting at 10 a.m. The organizers have also invited presidential aspirants Joseph Estrada , Richard Gordon and Gilbert Teodoro.
The candidates are expected to address the following concerns:
1. The Maguindanao nightmare and the wider challenge of peace in the Philippine South. What is your assessment of the situation in Maguindanao and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, and what policies and programs will you pursue to bring an end to the conflict in Mindanao and Sulu, and install stable government and sustainable development across the region?
2. Philippine foreign relations and international security. What significance do you attach to Philippine relations with the world, what countries and regions are most important, and do you believe the nation should be involved or not in the international fight against terrorism?
3. Philippine economy and international economic relations. What policies will you adopt for strengthening and growing the national economy, how will you expand foreign trade and investments in the country, and what importance do you attach to key economic organizations such as the World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.
4. Migrant workers. What policies will you adopt with respect to Filipino labor migration, the welfare of OFWs, Philippine relations with labor-receiving countries, and conventions for the protection and rights of migrant workers?
5. Philippine competitiveness in the world. What specific policies and programs will you adopt to reverse the erosion of Philippine international competitiveness in the world, and what particular areas do you consider most vital to national interest?
Registration is required. Those who are interested in attending may call Mel Reyes at 885 0921.
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