We are living in uncertain times. The stock index continued to plummet, the economy is bleak, the value of the peso is breaching ₱59 to a dollar. The most recent casualty in the sophomoric economic strategy is the manufacturing sector which suffered a trade slump by about 40%. Obviously it has substantially lost the export market. Tourism which had been a cash cow has become anemic. We salivate at how our neighboring ASEAN countries are getting huge numbers of globe-trotting Chinese tourists who used to be the country’s biggest visitors.
From the start of the Marcos administration radical changes happened in our foreign affairs policy and defense strategy. As quick as the flash of a lightning we suddenly have nine EDCA military bases and Malacanang and the Defense Department started saber rattling. Where conflicts with China used to be resolved in bilateral talks the incumbent leadership attempted to engage China in skirmishes forgetting that in today’s warfare the biblical account of David and Goliath remains to be in the Book of Samuel. Today’s armed conflict is not won by slingshots and hubris. It is resolved by negotiation, economic sanctions and guided nuclear warheads.
But Marcos and his defense advisers lack in appreciation of what realpolitik is. While the US and China appears to be at loggerheads on the issue of Taiwan and the US military bases in the Philippines, American and Chinese businessmen are in talks with each other on how to enhance trade. Pres. Donald Trump and Pres. Xi Jinping are constantly negotiating to improve on business ties.
Last Thursday, Marcos proudly strolled on top of the just finished Bucana Bridge. Netizens especially Davaowenyos were not amused over his statements which to them sounded like the present administration funded the project. Marcos was a companied in this trip by DPWH Vince Dizon, PAS Anton Lagdameo and MinDa Sec. Leo Magno. Not one from the local city officialdom was present. But Mayor Baste Duterte called on his constituents to clap their hands to cheer for Marcos on the inspection of his government project.
The Bucana Bridge in fact is part of Duterte’s successful personal diplomatic foray in China to settle conflict over the Scarborough Shoal through bilateral talks. Two bridges across Pasig River to ease traffic in Metro Manila and the Bucana Bridge and one in Davao City to connect the southern and northern portions of the coastal boulevard. It is a gift package of China to the Philippines worth billions of pesos.
I do not know how and what Marcos feels on top of Bucana Bridge considering his anti-China policy. And that is true with the retinue of officials with him.
Marcos scheduled the official opening of Bucana Bridge on December 15. Wonder whether he or Dizon will invite China’s diplomatic corps. I would venture a guess that none of the local officials will be present but am certain that for the sake of past President Rodrigo R. Duterte who remains in detention at the Hague, either he or any or all of the Duterte siblings and the City Council of Davao will do.
That is gratitude.
