Manila Infanta Road and Trading with the Pacific island countries

The Manila Infanta Road, MIR is now open albeit not yet completely cemented. This has realized the dream going back to the Marcos administration and even before, of opening up a corridor to the Pacific Ocean for Manila. This road will open up opportunities for both Manila and Infanta.

To maximize the utility of the MIR for the whole country, it must live up to its role as Manila's gateway to the Pacific Ocean, not only to the eastern north Luzon seaboard. The best way to do this is by making Infanta the springboard for Philippine trade with the Pacific island countries.

A port capable of handling ocean-going ships has to be put up in Infanta. Using Infanta as the port instead of Manila, will reduce cost and transit time by removing the sea trip going around the San Bernardino Strait. It can also be an economic impetus to the northern Quezon and southern Isabela areas that have low employment opportunities.

The Philippines has a history of trading with the Pacific island countries. Were it not for the Treaty of Paris between Spain and the U.S. that robbed the Philippines of its independence, the Marianas including Guam, and the Carolines including Palau, would still be part of the Philippine territory. Palau was actually called Nueva Filipinas or New Philippines. With Gen. Aguinaldo's victory over the Spanish empire in this area, the first Philippine Republic is the successor state of the Spanish East Indies or Indias Orientales Españolas. According to Wikipedia, at various times, this proto Philippine entity also included parts of Formosa (Taiwan), Sabah, and parts of the Moluccas.

In this era of globalization, the Philippines can strengthen its historical ties to the western Pacific island countries through trade, cultural exchange, finance and other relationships. The Philippines can act as an anchor to these western Pacific island countries, and even as a refuge as these countries battle rising ocean levels.