MANILA -- Leaders of the Philippines' most influential business groups agree that the current soured relations between Manila and Kuwait is likely to be short-lived and that it is unlikely to produce an economic backlash.
The row between the two nations began after Philippine embassy personnel staged an "emergency rescue" of distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), which was viewed by the Kuwaiti government as a violation of its sovereignty. The rescue was documented on video and posted in social media, where it went viral. This reportedly angered Kuwaiti authorities even more.
But Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) Chairman Jesus Arranza expressed confidence that flared tempers will dissipate and this issue will have no impact on the economic relations between the two countries.
“It’s too bad that it ended that way. But I don’t think it will last long,” Arranza told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview Friday.
He said that since the Philippine government has already explained and apologized to the Kuwaiti government, the two nations are expected to resolve the issue.
“I’m in favor of helping the OFWs, but the question is why it has to be documented and posted on social media?” Arranza said, adding that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has to explain its action of video documentation and sharing it on social media.
This sentiment was practically echoed by Employers' Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) president Donald Dee, who said the problem could have been contained had footage of the rescue not been posted on social media. He said embassy officials documenting the rescue should not have allowed the video to be leaked as it may have caused the Kuwaiti government to lose face.
Dee, however, said the "this (diplomatic row) will pass soon enough." He said the Kuwaiti government should be made to understand that the embassy officials were only performing their duties when they staged the rescue. Dee added that Filipinos remain highly regarded in the international labor market for their competence and work ethics.
Meantime, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Emeritus Francis Chua said he is confident the Department of Foreign Affairs can defuse current tensions with gulf state. He said the local business community is not affected by the diplomatic row and that "we trust Foreign Affairs Sec. (Alan Peter) Cayetano to handle the matter diplomatically."
Kuwaiti investments in the Philippines are mostly on agriculture-based enterprises. (PNA)
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