Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada reiterated that maintaining peace and order is essential to keep attracting more tourists and foreign investors alike.
This was always his battlecry even when he first became mayor of the country’s capital city, as well as when he was President of the Philippines back in the late ‘90s. He had repeatedly said that a country or city would find it hard to achieve progress without peace and order.
“Manila is a business-friendly city. We do our best to help out investors who want to set up businesses here because we need them to keep creating jobs for our residents,” Estrada said in an interview.
As for making Manila a safer place not just for tourists but for its residents, Estrada said he had instructed the city’s police force to guard and secure the area so travellers can fully enjoy the historic places there, such as Intramuros, Chinatown in Binondo, and the Rizal Park.
While all foreign investors are welcome to set up shop in Manila, Estrada mentioned how Chinese businessmen have been—and will continue to be—instrumental in helping advance the city’s economy.
“Let’s not forget that the first traders who came to the Philippines around 200 years ago were the Chinese,” said the 81-year-old mayor.
Many Filipinos also have Chinese blood in them, which perhaps makes it easier for Filipinos to patronize businesses by the Chinese. Historically, the Filipinos and Chinese have maintained a very friendly relationship, and Estrada sees this good bilateral relations to continue.
Estrada thinks it’s a good move that President Rodrigo Duterte is forging closer ties with China because the fellow Asian country has always been a good neighbor.
But while the Manila mayor thinks the perceived “warmer” stance toward China being undertaken by the President will bring good things in the long run, Estrada maintained that the Philippines should maintain an independent foreign diplomatic policy.
Estrada lauded Duterte’s position on international relations. Earlier this week, the President delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in which he mentioned that the Philippines shall “continue to assert and pursue an independent foreign policy” and that the country “shall continue to reach out to all nations regardless of their prevailing political persuasions or proximity to or distance” from Philippine shores.
Neighboring ASEAN countries could benefit from a similar independent foreign policy as it is important that each member of the region maintain its sovereignty, yet continue to work together for the good of all.
As Estrada plans to run for a third and final term as Manila mayor in 2019, he said he would continue to pursue his dream of regaining the “lost pride and glory” of Manila.
This is a story from iMANGO.