PH-US ties to remain strong regardless of who becomes US pres. —Amb. Romualdez

The alliance between the Philippines and United States will remain strong regardless of who wins the US presidential election, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Sunday.

"Para sa akin medyo kalmado tayo na I don't think we're going to have a major change in the policies of the United States as far as our alliance is concerned," Romualdez said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(For me, we are kind of calm that I don't think we're going to have a major change in the policies of the United States as far as our alliance is concerned.)

Romualdez said he talked to both the camps of Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris and they assured him the foreign policy will be the same.

"Ako naman luckily for me nandito ako, and ako nag-present ako ng credentials kay Trump sa 2017. So nakilala most of the people around former president Trump at ang kanilang national security advisers atsaka 'yung mga iba pang [mga tao] that are now part of the Trump campaign. Kausap ko sila," he said.

(For me, luckily I am here, and I presented my credentials to Trump in 2017. So I got to know most of the people around former president Trump and their national security advisers and others that are now part of the Trump campaign. I got to talk to them.)

"Sinabi naman sa akin na 'yung policies nila will more or less be the same," Romualdez added.

(They said the policies will more or less be the same.)

"Ganu'n rin ang sabi sa akin ng kampo ni Vice President Harris. Pero klaro 'yung kay Vice President Harris dahil siyempre Democratic Party. 'Yun ang kausap natin dito. 'Yun ang nakilala ni President [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.] noong nagpunta siya dito dalawang beses sa Washington," he said.

(That was also what Vice President Harris' camp said. But the one with Vice President Harris is clear because of course it's the Democratic Party. They are the ones we are talking to here. President Marcos got to meet them when he visited Washington twice.)

The ambassador said it is important for the Philippines who will become the next US president and what his or her foreign policy will be.

"Para sa akin, para sa Pilipinas, of course, importante sa atin na kung sino man ang magiging presidente tsaka ang kanilang foreign policy is what's going to be very critical for us," he said.

(For me and for the Philippines of course, it is important who will be president and his/her foreign policy is what's going to be very critical for us.)

Economic ties

Romualdez also said maintaining strong economic ties with the US is very important, especially now that foreign investments are increasing in the country.

"Ang importante sa atin of course is economic. 'Yan ang pinakaimportante sa lahat dahil mataas ang investments ngayon sa atin. Hindi lang naman galing sa atin (US), galing din sa Europe at ibang bansa. Nag-iinvest sa atin ngayon. Medyo maganda ang tingin ko. Kaya ang growth rate natin ngayon ay medyo bahagya [mataas] at marami ang nag-iinvest sa Pilipinas ngayon. 'Yan ang para sa akin ay importante sa lahat," he added.

(The economic [ties] of course is important to us. That is most important because we have a lot of foreign investments now. Not just from US, but also from Europe and other countries. They are investing in our country. I think that's good. That is why our growth rate is a bit up and many are investing in the Philippines now. That is most important, in my opinion.)

West Philippine Sea

Asked if the Philippines should be concerned about the new US president's stand on the West Philippine Sea issue, Romualdez said there is none.

"Sa tingin ko dahil ang kausap ko naman diyan ay ating mga military dito o 'yung Pentagon, eh alam nila it is for our mutual interest. Interes 'yun ng Amerika, interest din ng atin," he said.

(I think, because I have been talking with the military here or the Pentagon, they know that it is for our mutual interest. That is for the interest of the US and the Philippines.)

"'Yang tinatawag na freedom of navigation diyan sa South China Sea is important na dapat walang isang bayan na may hawak diyan dahil trillions of dollars ang dumadaan diyan na trade. Maaapektuhan ang Amerika," Romualdez added.

(When it comes to the freedom of navigation in South China Sea, it is important that no one country has control there because trillions of dollars in trade pass through it. The US will be affected.)

"Atsaka 'yung kanilang supply chain. Importante din 'yan. Siyempre hindi naman lahat pwedeng i-manufacture dito sa Amerika sa isang click of a finger. Kaya importante sa kanila at na kasama nila ang kaalyado nila katulad natin, Japan, Australia, South Korea at iba pang mga bansa diyan sa South China Sea [issue]," he said.

(Their supply chain is also important to them. Of course they cannot manufacture everything in America in the click of a finger. So [having freedom of navigation in South China Sea] is important to them. Likewise it is important to them that their allies like the Philippines, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and other countries also have the same stand with regard to the South China Sea issue.)

Voting

The US presidential election will be held on Tuesday, November 5 (US time) but some voters have already cast their votes.

"Close to 75 million Americans ang nagboto na sa kanilang early voting," Romualdez said. "It's the first time in the history of America na ganyan kadami ang early voting."

(Close to 75 million Americans already participated in early voting. It's the first time in the history of America that the early voting is that high.)

The Filipino-American community is divided between Trump and Harris, he added.

"Medyo hati 'yung Filipino-American community dito sa Amerika," Romualdez said.

He said he talked to some Filipino-Americans in Cleveland, Ohio and most of them are Democrats. However there are diehard Trump supporters as well.

In northeast US, particularly Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, there are many Democrats but many Trump supporters as well, Romualdez added.

The race between Trump and Harris is tight, he said.

"Razor-thin ang tinatawag nilang fight dito between these two candidates," Romualdez said.

"Sinasabi nila itong eleksyon na ito is so critical," he added.

(The fight between these two candidates is razor thin. They say the election is so critical.)

Three days before the US presidential election, Harris and Trump were still out campaigning, courting votes. —KG, GMA Integrated News