Some lawmakers have expressed fear a Donald Trump presidency will affect American business process outsourcing (BPO) firms in the Philippines.
The representatives said Trump’s hard stance in prioritizing the creation of jobs for Americans might result in the pullout of BPOs, which provide employment to thousands of Filipinos in the country.
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Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said Trump’s protectionist policies might mean the US would also tighten its outsourcing policies.
“Protectionist policy si Trump. So our BPOs might be affected lalo na kung higpitan nila ang outsourcing,” Baguilat said.
Baguilat also feared that with Trump’s harsh immigration stance, the entry of overseas Filipino workers to the US might be more difficult.
“Immigration policies will be more difficult kaya sigurado ako mahirapan magpunta mga Pinoys here to the US,” Baguilat said.
Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, a former soldier, also said Trump might tighten the US immigration and job outsourcing policies.
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“Let us see in the coming days how the foreign policy of US will change with Trump’s presidency assuming he will make good of his campaign speeches, where he will impose tight control in their immigration policy, more work for Americans, more inward looking policies rather than global intervention and aid which drain US treasury,” Alejano said.
“These would impact the Philippine economy, especially the BPO industry and OFWs as a whole,” he said.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who once filed a resolution seeking to refuse Trump entry to the Philippines, also feared for the American BPOs in the country.
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“Republicans are bad for Philippine interests. In the case of Trump: First, his protectionism promises to bring jobs back to America,” Salceda said.
For his part, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin lamented that the world scenario was now being run by “hostile leaders,” referring to Trump and President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Ginagaya tayo ng US! Is that good or bad? I think our future is intertwined and we have to live with each other. We are now in a volatile world with hostile leaders taking over,” Villarin said.