Chiz: PH must prepare for policy shift with Trump return to White House

The Philippine government should prepare responses for possible changes in policies under the fresh term of US President-elect Donald Trump, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Sunday.

“Donald Trump is a major macroeconomic assumption, from trade to security to immigration, what he said he plans to do, some on day one of his administration, would certainly impact us,” Escudero said.

Should Trump push through with his declaration to carry out mass deportations, he added, about 300,000 Filipinos in the US may be affected.

Escudero pointed out that it would require 10 big airplanes to bring 1% of the 300,000 Filipinos out of the United States.

Data gathered by the GMA Integrated News Research showed that there are 4,640,313 Filipinos in the US as of last year, according to the latest figures by the US Census Bureau.

Further, data from the US Department of Homeland Security stated that Filipinos have the fifth largest unauthorized immigrant population in the US with 350,000 in 2022.

“How will his plan to erect high tariff walls affect our economy given the fact that almost $1 in every $7 of our export earnings come from our trade with the United States?” Escudero said.

“Kung dahil sa kanya lalakas ang dolyar, ano ang epekto nito sa atin kung ang dulot nito ay ang paghina ng piso? Siguradong lolobo ang halaga ng ating foreign debt,” he added.

(If peso depreciated as dollars strengthened due to Trump, I’m sure the value of our foreign debt will balloon.)

The senator also said even though Trump’s proposed pivot on the diplomatic front will reduce global tensions and settle wars, it may impact the country’s fiscal position.

“The inconvenient truth is cheaper oil will reduce tax collections on oil upon which government spending on social programs is pegged," Escudero said.

The senator also said it is important that the Philippines revisit its relationship with the US, as its military alliance was boosted by the Biden administration.

“On the security front, will a second Trump administration be hawkish or dovish against China? Dapat handa tayo kung sakaling may bagong posisyon ang Washington (We should be prepared in case the position of Washington changes,” Escudero said.

Trump was elected president by securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babes" Romualdez has said the cooperation of America in terms of maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region would not change under Trump. — BM, GMA Integrated News