Mrs. Gloria Arroyo Macapagal

Looking forward to the 112th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary which will take place in Manila, the President of the Philippines, Mrs. Gloria Arroyo Macapagal, shared with The World of Parliaments some views on migration, terrorism, population issues, domestic and international policies relating to women, and natural disasters.

Q: Madam President, the IPU is preparing for a debate on the subject of migration. The Philippines is respected for its successful policies in this area. Do you have any suggestions to give to other countries confronted with migration problems?
Gloria Arroyo Macapagal: The welfare and protection of overseas Filipinos, estimated at eight million worldwide, are among the foremost priorities of the Philippine Government. The well-being of our overseas workers constitutes one of the eight pillars of my foreign policy. Most Filipinos emigrate as fixed-term contract workers who remit a large part of their earnings to their families here, and return to the Philippines when their contracts end. Our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are called our “new heroes” for their valuable role in strengthening the country's economy. In 2004 alone, OFW remittances through banks reached US$ 8.54 billion. The Philippines was instrumental in proposing the adoption by the United Nations of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, which will protect migrant workers of all nationalities. I hope the the IPU membership will urge their respective governments to fully enforce this Convention, which took effect in 2003.

Q: What are the origins of terrorism in the Philippines and how is your Government coping with the problem?
G.A.M.: The root of terrorism is evil. We believe it is an act of tyranny by dangerous misfits who subvert the true meaning of Islam. We abhor the use of terror to kill innocent civilians, including children, for a senseless cause. Soon after 11 September 2001, the Philippines adopted a programme to combat regional and local terrorism that highlights international networking, intelligence cooperation among international and domestic counter-terrorism forces, the interoperability of our various law enforcement agencies and community involvement in intelligence gathering. Aided by advanced technology and strategies from friendly governments and the solidarity of the Filipino people, we were able to neutralise four of the five most wanted local terrorist leaders, and contain terrorist threats in our land. Our soldiers, with the help of vigilant communities, continue to track down these terrorists in their lairs. Our efforts to improve the economy and eradicate poverty shall mop up the recruiting grounds of terror in our society.

Q: The Philippines has the highest birth rate in Asia. The population could double within three decades. It there any chance of reducing poverty in these circumstances?
G.A.M.: Our population policy derives its mandate from the constitutional guarantee to defend “the right of spouses to found a family in accordance with their religious convictions and the demands of responsible parenthood”. We stand by responsible parenthood, enlightened birth spacing and choice. We aim to reduce our population growth rate to 1.9 per cent, from the current 2.3 per cent, within six years through an aggressive family planning information campaign that provides couples with more informed choices on family size, and equally emphasises mother and child health. We are actively pushing for natural family planning methods, as they are the most “religion-neutral” and affordable techniques, and they are among the easiest practices to adopt.

Q: One of the agenda items of the 112th IPU Assembly deals with the impact of domestic and international policies on the situation of women. How do you think countries can improve the situation of women who are exposed to exploitation in the workplace or who become victims of criminal networks?
G.A.M.: I am happy to say that towards the end of the 1990s, the Philippines had already met all but two of the commitments drawn up in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, including those relating to violence against women. Since 1993, the Philippine Congress has passed al least 15 laws for the protection of women and children. I am particularly proud of our Anti-Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act of 1995, which I authored when I was a Senator, and the five laws relating to women and children that have been adopted under my presidency. I followed up on these five bills during my term as Vice-President, when I was also the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. They include laws prohibiting trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and laws defining violence against women and children. I urge other countries to pass their own laws prohibiting violence against and the trafficking of women, and to promote the economic empowerment of their women. Most cases of exploitation of women are rooted in economic inequality. I strongly call for greater cooperation among nations with regard to the implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, as well as the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

Q: The Asian region is suffering from the consequences of the earthquakes and tsunami. What can you recommend as a long term strategy for the region in this regard?
G.A.M.: The Philippines's immediate response was to send medical and forensic teams in response to the needs of the most affected countries. A team of doctors, nurses and sanitation engineers was dispatched to Sri Lanka and another medical team went to Indonesia, while a 20-member forensic team was sent to Thailand in two batches. In the short term, there was a tremendous need for rescue and relief measures, particularly to meet basic needs such as requirements for clean water, food and health care. As we approach the medium term, efforts should concentrate on rehabilitation of the victims, including the provision of livelihood opportunities and therapy for emotional trauma to help them return to normal life. At the Special Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders' Meeting, held in Jakarta in January, I expressed full support for the establishment of a Tsunami Warning System in the region and for information sharing. Additionally, I offered the skills of our people in helping rebuild lives and restore physical property, and the offer still stands. I believe that physically rebuilding a structure can signal the start of the psychological healing process for the affected people. It would be ideal if ASEAN leaders would consider the establishment of a regional rapid response and relief operations centre for such types of disasters, so as to improve the effectiveness of regional rescue and relief operations and, through international cooperation, mitigate the damages brought on by such calamities. Perhaps future ASEAN summits can refine this concept.