27 October 2016
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General, Secretary Guiling “Gene” Mamondiong has expressed support to the independent foreign policy of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Mamondiong said that Duterte's decision to adopt a foreign policy will earn the respect of other countries.
“We are a nation of more than 100 million Filipino so the world must respect our decision, we are a sovereign nation so the other counties must respect us, treat us equal to other powerful nation”, said Mamondiong.
Mamondiong said that Duterte's decision would also seek stronger ties with other nations.
He said that deeper ties with other countries would empower interests in national, regional and global levels.
Declaring an independent foreign policy would be a long term policy which the country hopes to achieve soon, said Mamondiong
He added that the country should not be dependent to other nations but we have to prove to others that we can stand on our own.
Based on the 1987 Constitution it states that “The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy. In its relations with other states, the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest and the right to self-determination”.
“We will observe and I must insist – I repeat, I must insist – on the time honoured principles of sovereign equality, non-interference and commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes to best serve our people and protect the interest of our country," said Duterte recently.
“I engaged the leaders of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nation) and its dialogue partners on important regional and international issues that impact on peace, security, stability and prosperity of our region, “And I called on leaders to support the individual and collective effort to bring security and stability to (the West Philippine Sea) through a rules-based approach for resolving maritime disputes,” Duterte added.
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