OPINION Should we host Afghan refugees?

THE question has been raised since last year.

had “raised concerns” about the US request to grant special immigration visas (SIVs) to the Afghans in several meetings.

We

GM, who is doing the explaining, but his responses give rise to more and more questions.

The massive sand reclamation that we are seeing are those of SM, in joint venture with Pasay City, which is supposed to be 390 hectares; another Pasay joint venture, that of mega-contractor Charlie Gonzales of Ulticon Builders who formed a new Pasay Harbor City project covering 265 hectares; the Manila Solar City project of 148 hectares fronting the Coconut Palace; and that of Waterfront Development of the Gatchalians, which is right in front of the dolomite beach of Roy Cimatu, and covers the foreshore of the US Embassy.

I do not know if the Bacoor project of the Tiu-Laurel family has started actual work, nor the Navotas reclamation approved by the Tiangcos.

As far as I know, the Solar City project fronting the Coconut Palace, got its joint venture with Manila as far back as when Fred Lim was mayor.

But jurisdictional issues due to overlaps with Pasay delayed the project. It was finally given the go-signal in 2021.

The same is true with the Ulticon and SM reclamation projects, as well as Gatchalians’ Waterfront development, which was approved by then Manila mayor Erap Estrada, along with the Horizon Manila reclamation project.

One will likewise recall that Pres. Duterte in his time stated that he was against any reclamation in the Manila Bay area, aware as he was that the Supreme Court, under a continuing “mandamus” writ, directed both the national and local governments to rehabilitate the bay and bring it back to its pristine level.

What happened to that stand? And why did the PRA approve despite that public avowal of the president then?

Certainly all these are not attributable to Pres. Marcos Jr., nor his DENR secretary, Mrs. Yulo-Loyzaga.

But it appears the Philippine government has yet to reach a decision on the request of the US government to temporarily host former Afghan supporters fleeing from the Taliban government.

It was in October last year when the United States requested the Philippines to receive the Afghans whose applications to enter the US are being processed.

What Washington is asking the Philippines is whether it could serve as the transition area for Afghan nationals displaced by their homeland’s conflict before they are resettled in the US.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously said this arrangement posed logistical and security issues.

But last month, President Marcos said the government was still consulting the US on whether or not to host the Afghan refugees:

“We have made some progress but there’s still some major obstacles to us being able to do it, but we continue to consult with our friends in the US.”

The President, however, did not specify what these obstacles were.

“Well, we have not given ourselves a deadline. What we are talking about is that hosted Jews fleeing the Nazis during World War II, we hosted Vietnamese refugees in the late 1970s to early 80s we’re trying to see what are the problems, what are the issues…we are trying to find ways to remedy those issues that we feel are something that we have to deal with.”

“I would like to manifest the Filipino instinct of hospitality, and many times have happened there have been situations around the world where there are refugees, but they were not accepted. We accept from anywhere. We are not forgotten by those we help. That is the attitude of the Filipino,” the President said.

But Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo

It seems the majority of DFA officials were strongly against the proposal as it posed not only a security risk but a reputational one as well, since the Afghan applicants would have restricted freedom of movement.

At least two lawmakers, however, support the US proposal.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has welcomed the move to provide sanctuary for distressed peoples from other countries, as the Philippines had done in the past.

“There is no problem with the nationality or origin of the refugees. The ‘who’ is not an issue. If they need a sanctuary then the Philippines can be a good one,” he said.

At the House of Representatives, Deputy Minority Leader France Castro said Filipinos commiserate with the Afghans who are suffering from the ongoing conflict in their Taliban-led country. “We understand that many Afghans are seeking refuge and we are open to the possibility of providing assistance to those who need it.”

They have a point there.

We hosted White Russians after the ouster of the Tsars, we hosted Jews fleeing the Nazis during World War II, we hosted Vietnamese refugees in the late 1970s to early 80s. So why can’t we do that now?