Story: ELMER RECUERDO
Photos: Grabbed from the Net
Photos: Grabbed from the Net
House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan urged the Philippine government and China to exhaust all diplomatic means to de-escalate the heightening tensions over maritime dispute.
In a statement, Libanan said the reported worsening tensions played up in international media can possibly dampen the government's efforts to attract additional foreign direct investments that are badly needed to produce new jobs for Filipinos.
"We are very concerned that prospective foreign investors might misperceive and misunderstand the tensions as a looming security risk," Libanan said.
Libanan noted that President Marcos himself has been visiting other countries "precisely to encourage their corporations to put up factories in the Philippines."
"In fact, we, in Congress, are even trying to find ways to relax the restrictive economic provisions of our Constitution, in order to lure more foreign investors to come in and create new employment opportunities for Filipinos," Libanan pointed out.
In a statement, Libanan said the reported worsening tensions played up in international media can possibly dampen the government's efforts to attract additional foreign direct investments that are badly needed to produce new jobs for Filipinos.
"We are very concerned that prospective foreign investors might misperceive and misunderstand the tensions as a looming security risk," Libanan said.
Libanan noted that President Marcos himself has been visiting other countries "precisely to encourage their corporations to put up factories in the Philippines."
"In fact, we, in Congress, are even trying to find ways to relax the restrictive economic provisions of our Constitution, in order to lure more foreign investors to come in and create new employment opportunities for Filipinos," Libanan pointed out.
Libanan said the Marcos administration need "to reassure potential foreign investors that regardless of the maritime dispute, the Philippines remains highly conducive to profitable business activities."
"We must stress that despite the tensions, the Philippines offers a stable, peaceful, and safe haven for the gainful production of goods and services by foreign investors," Libanan said.
Earlier, Marcos said that the Philippines "will not surrender its sovereign rights" amid China's intimidation.
"We seek no conflict with any nation, more so with nations that purport and claim to be our friends, but we will not be cowed into silence, submission or subservience. Filipinos do not yield," Marcos said.
China Coast Guard vessels water-cannoned and heavily damaged a Philippine civilian boat on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on March 23, setting off an exchange of angry protests between Manila and Beijing.(CJ/jmm/ER)
"We must stress that despite the tensions, the Philippines offers a stable, peaceful, and safe haven for the gainful production of goods and services by foreign investors," Libanan said.
Earlier, Marcos said that the Philippines "will not surrender its sovereign rights" amid China's intimidation.
"We seek no conflict with any nation, more so with nations that purport and claim to be our friends, but we will not be cowed into silence, submission or subservience. Filipinos do not yield," Marcos said.
China Coast Guard vessels water-cannoned and heavily damaged a Philippine civilian boat on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on March 23, setting off an exchange of angry protests between Manila and Beijing.(CJ/jmm/ER)
