Labor leader and senatorial hopeful Leody de Guzman on Monday raised serious concerns over the “crazy” policies of newly elected US President Donald Trump, warning that the Philippines could feel the brunt of America’s inward turn.
De Guzman said there are more than 4.5 million Filipinos living and working in US states like California, Hawaii, and Illinois—many of whom now face uncertainty amid Trump’s crackdown on migrants and sweeping government job cuts following the dismantling of several federal agencies.
Even more troubling, De Guzman said, was Trump’s decision to withdraw support for aid agencies, including those with ongoing projects in the Philippines.
On the economic front, Trump’s imposition of a 17% tariff on Philippine exports has already unsettled the local stock market and could trigger ripple effects in key sectors such as electronics and agro-industrial goods, he warned.
“The Philippine government must conduct an honest-to-goodness assessment of these developments and be transparent with the public on what safety net measures are in place to shield our economy against the recklessness of Trump,” De Guzman said in a statement.
The aspiring senator urged the Marcos administration to act swiftly, noting that Filipino workers—already burdened by inflation, rising electricity costs, fare hikes, and the continued deregulation of basic services—should not bear the impact of an economic downturn caused by US policy shifts.
“Let’s not allow the already overburdened Filipino worker to once again shoulder the impact (of these developments) in the economy,” De Guzman said.