Marcos, US diplomat discuss extending, redefining VFA

Presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Monday discussed the possible "extending" and "redefining" of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with a top American official.

US Charges d' Affaires Heather Variava earlier paid a courtesy call on Marcos as well as other diplomats, including Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko, South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Inchul, and India Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran.

Among the topics raised during Marcos' meeting with Variava were security issues.

"Siyempre security concerns pinag-usapan namin, the return or the resigning or the extension of the VFA agreement and how it is has to be redefined for the near future with the situation around the world especially in our region, siyempre 'yun ang ating primary concern," Marcos said.

The VFA, which took effect in 1999, allows US troops to train and advise the Philippine military in disaster response and its fight against terrorists.

In July 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the retraction of the termination of the VFA after sending a termination notice to the US in February 2021.

Marcos said security concerns have always been a big part of the ties with the US. He added that any assistance from US to help the Philippine economy is always welcome.

"The additional, 'yung aking sinasabi of course we will welcome any assistance for the economy that we can get from the United States. But I thought... I said not only a dependence on aid on the United States but also on trade... so to open the again, the bureaucracy, this administration, to the possibilities of private partnership, joint venture from the Philippines..." Marcos said.

Aside from those things, Marcos said measures to prevent climate change as well as global warming were also discussed during their meeting.

"As you can imagine pagka kausap natin Amerikano eh marami talaga kaming paguusapan but primarily one of the first subjects we came upon were the assistances that the United States is offering to mitigate climate change in the different countries at very active sila, they want to take a leadership role in the mitigation of the effects of climate change, of global warming," Marcos said.

"Noong nakita ko sa brief na 'yun ang kanilang ginagawa ay nakita ko kaagad na Top 3 tayo sa at risk sa climate change so that's immediately of great interest," Marcos added.

South Korea, Japan, India

Meanwhile, Marcos said reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was also discussed with the South Korean diplomat. During the campaign, Marcos has been vocal for his willingness to revisit the said power plant for additional source of energy.

"Pinagusapan din namin with South Korean ambassador 'yung offer nila at 'yung nakapunta na rito na mga experts ng nuclear power para tingnan ang Bataan Nuclear Power Plant para makita kung ano ba ang maaaring gawin, puwede pa bang ituloy o kailangan na magtayo ng bago..." Marcos said.

Marcos said digital communication was also discussed as South Korea is considered to be "one of the best in the worlds" when it comes to information technology.

Meanwhile, Japan is eyeing to hire more Filipinos in Japan, according to Marcos.

"He (Kazuhiko) would like to see an increase, Japan would like to see an increase of employment of Filipinos in Japan. So we will pursue that opportunities further," Marcos said.

In his talks with Kumaran, improving the agriculture sector was discussed as well as medicine production.

"'Yung gamot, we know that India is one of the largest manufacturers of generic drugs. I think, I said if we could go into partnership para magkaroon ng production dito sa Pilipinas, turuan niyo kami what is the manufacturing technology, what is the necessary things that have to be put in place..." Marcos said.

During their private meetings, the envoys vowed to strengthen the ties in trade and diplomacy, as well as their common interests in democracy, self-determination, and economic recovery.—LDF, GMA News