President Duterte said he is prepared "to open the borders” in the country to boost economic activity, particularly coal trading.
(ARMAN BAYLON / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In his visit to Jolo Sulu Monday, the President said the military can help ensure the “safe passage” of coal and other goods being traded especially in the south.
"I'm ready to open the borders. I know that wala na masyadong barter trade kasi lahat 'yung binibili ng mga Indonesians dito sa atin, nandiyan na sa kanila ngayon eh. Eh noon wala silang manufacturing (I know there is not enough barter trade because all of the products bought by the Indonesians here are available there now. Before they had no manufacturing)," he said in his remarks aired on state television Tuesday.
"But if there is a way which we can arrange another --- maski big time coal tapos 'yung safe passage lang ng mga sundalo ko na hindi sila ma-ambush sa --- ma-hijack, okay na sa akin 'yan. Mag-usap tayo. Marami diyan (But if there is a way we can arrange another, even big time coal then my soldiers will ensure safe passage to print ambush, hijacking, that's okay with me. Let's talk. There are many)," he said before an assembly of troops stationed in Jolo.
Duterte does not believe that coal is on the way out despite the emergence of renewable sources like solar energy.
He said coal will be used "for the next 30 years" since technology has yet to sustain solar power operations. "Iilan lang, parang baterya, iilan lang ang makarga niyan (It can charge a few batteries). We have yet to invent a new one)," he said.
In the same remarks, the President made a pitch for intensified trading to help bring livelihood to the Muslim community. He said they could even take "monopoly of the barge" without government involvement.
"Hindi naman sabihin ng mga Moro na api sila, wala na silang hanapbuhay na maganda. They can have a monopoly of the barge there. Hindi na kami --- kaming gobyerno ng Pilipinas, hindi na kami magkarga. Ibuhos mo na lang dito. Iyong transit niyan, I can concede it to you (So the Moros won't say they have been oppressed, that they have no good livelihood. They can have a monopoly of the barge there, not the government of the Philippines. We won't load the goods. You can pour them here. The transit, I can concede it to you)," he said.
Asked to clarify the President's remarks on opening the country's borders, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte was referring to the economic integration implemented among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
"That's really a zero tariff or minimum tariff for intra ASEAN trade. It's a common market," Roque said during a Palace press briefing Tuesday.