A year of outreach

The beginning of a New Year is always a time of reflection and optimism.

Manila is a great city with a 24/7 vitality whether you are in Divisoria or Greenbelt. To understand the heartbeat of the nation, the capital offers insights on politics, commerce and of course less serious diversions. But the true soul of a nation can only be felt by reaching into the lives of people living in the provinces and remote places. For me, 2014 will be a year of outreach.

I won’t be the only one revisiting the Visayas as the reconstruction progresses. While the situation is steadily improving, sustained hard work lies ahead. I share in the hope that people will build back better and that those who gave generously will see that their money is spent wisely. We will all reflect on the lessons learnt and be better prepared for future disasters – climate science tells us we can expect more turbulent times.

This is a big year for Mindanao. The Comprehensive Agreement is within reach. This should be a cause for celebration not just for the Muslim and indigenous people of Bangsamoro, but for all Pinoys to enjoy the dividends of peace. It is now in the hands of lawmakers and the citizens of the Philippines to tear down the flimsy argument for violence and extremism.

I have in mind cities, towns and villages all across the Philippines and how they can attract the numbers of tourists they deserve. Places like Boracay, Cebu and Palawan are very much on the international tourist map. I saw for myself the charm of Vigan, the farms of Pangasinan and I dipped into dinengdeng with my host family in La Union. Others in my team talk about Caramoan, Hundred Islands, Mindoro, Siquijor, Dumaguete and many other places that I am keen to see for myself.

A real focus on improving infrastructure with more local and foreign investment will open up the provinces to visitors who in turn will create jobs all over the country. Transparent and timely public procurement on major projects, with rules that facilitate the selection of the best value for money provider, will be critical to unlocking further the great potential of the Philippines.

2013 was a year of firsts and considerable achievements. The first ever investment grade rating, 7% growth, education reforms such as K to 12, greater coverage of healthcare and many others were all important. It is human nature to dwell on what still needs to be done. Citizens in their day to day chatter, including social media, are encouraged by what they see and as is their right, want more from their governments. I see many parallels here in the debate we have in the UK on access to government information and role of journalists to be able to report, without fear, what they perceive to be in the public interest.

I truly hope that 2014 is a year in which Britain and the Philippines will discover all the things we have in common. There is so much we can share, be it in trade, investment, education, culture, creativity, human rights, global issues and tourism. By reaching out to each other we can overcome geographic distance and be enduring friends.  

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(Asif Ahmad is the British Ambassador.)