“We value your friendship.”
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo made that message
when he was the guest speaker the EU-Philippines Business Summit at the Solaire
Resort and Casino in ParaƱaque City, she was conveying her message to the
European Union itself and the European business community doing business in the
Philippines.
This despite a few days back President Rodrigo Duterte told
all European diplomats to “leave the Philippines in 24 hours,” in reaction to
the critics saying that the country may be expelled from the United Nations
Human Rights Council. *
The Vice President in the EU-Philippines Business Summit( photo credit to Interaksyon website) |
“Your importance to us goes beyond economics, trade, and
aid. We are grateful for your support and Guidance in many aspects of our
lives,” the Vice President said.
At the time when the President and the EU are both very passionate in defending their
respective opinions regarding the status of the human rights in the country,
the Vice President hopes that it will not “extensively strain” the
Philippines-EU relationship.
“I never thought I would see the day when such a university
accepted and protected concept can be painted as undesirable and even wrong,’
Robredo said. “every day I worry about how this will affect our young ones and
our future generations.”
The Philippines enjoys GSP+ under the EU’s Generalized
Scheme of Preferences, enabling the Philippines to export to the European Union
with zero duties. In 2016 alone, the Philippines was able to export to EU 1.71
billion worth of goods and services.
EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen earlier
said cutting aid from the 28-member bloc would mean the loss of about €250
million or $278.73 million worth of grants.
EU overtook the United States and Japan as being the largest destination of exports from the Philippines in March, according to the Philippines Statistics Authority.
Robredo concluded, “Let us keep talking. Let us keep
finding ways to collaborate better. And thank you all for keeping faith in the
Philippines. More power to all of you. Mabuhay po kayo.”
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