LEADERS of the Philippines’ influential business groups believe the current soured relations between Manila and Kuwait is likely to be short-lived and 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 the Kuwaiti government viewed as a violation of its sovereignty.
The rescue was documented on video and posted on social media, where it went viral. This reportedly angered Kuwaiti authorities even more.
Federation of Philippine Industries Chairman Jesus Arranza expressed confidence that flared tempers will dissipate and this issue will have no impact on 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 PNA in a phone interview.
Since the Philippine government has already explained and apologized to the Kuwaiti government, the two nations are expected to resolve the issue, he said.
“I’m in favor of helping OFWs but the question is why it has to be documented and posted on social media,” Arranza asked, adding that the Department of Foreign Affairs has to explain the video documentation and sharing on social media.
Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines President Donald Dee echoed this sentiment, saying the problem could have been contained if the footage was not posted on social media.
Embassy officials who documented the “rescue” should not have allowed the video to be leaked as it may have caused the Kuwaiti government to lose face, Dee said.
Still, he believes “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.
Dee added that Filipinos remain highly regarded in the international labor market for their competence and work ethic.
For his part Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Emeritus Francis Chua is confident the DFA can defuse current tensions with the gulf state.
The local business community is not affected by the diplomatic row and “we trust Foreign Affairs Secretary (Alan Peter) Cayetano to handle the matter diplomatically,” he said.
Kuwaiti investments in the Philippines are mostly on agriculture-based enterprises. (PNA)
