MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday vowed to prioritize the solutions presented to him by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) to help his government in addressing current problems of the country.
“I’m attending to so many concerns of government but I will do everything to really address what you have mentioned. I will place it first in the agenda during our next meeting,” Duterte said in his speech during the concluding ceremonies of the 44th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBCE) at the Manila Hotel.
Duterte thanked the PCCI, the country’s largest business organizations, and the rest of the business community for their contributions to the economy.
The PBC solutions are in the fields of agriculture, agro-forestry, and fisheries; ease of doing business; education; energy committee; environment; industry and manufacturing; infrastructure, transportation, and logistics; legislative reforms; mining and mineral resources; taxation; and tourism.
PBCE Chairman Ramon Ang stressed the need to construct and fast-track infrastructure projects to lessen traffic congestion in Metro Manila particularly on EDSA.
Ang said the country is losing at least PHP3 trillion to PHP4 trillion per year due to traffic, airport and seaport congestion.
“If we can solve this, our cost of doing business will improve tremendously,” Ang said in his speech.
Duterte said his government is doing its best to correct the aberrations in the traffic on EDSA despite Congress’ refusal to allow him to borrow money to solve the problem.
“And with less money in our hands and (Finance Secretary Carlos) Dominguez (III) desperately trying to raise the money and with the global chaos, we find ourselves here today still grappling for solutions,” he added.
Duterte also reiterated his commitment to continue his war against graft and corruption.
“I promised you that corruption will be dealt with severely and I am doing it. That is a campaign promise which I’m doing now,” Duterte said, drawing applause from his audience.
He urged them to be assertive of their constitutional, civil and political rights to combat corruption.
“Ang makatulong niyan magsama tayo. Isumbong mo lang at sinabi ko nga, (What can really help is let us join. Tell me and as I said) anybody who is complaining about graft and corruption, I will give you an audience any time,” Duterte said.
Duterte also advised foreign investors to tell him if they have complaints against the government and public officials.
“I’m advising foreign investors, you have to tell me the truth, if you have something to complain especially about corruption, please talk to me, and I will give 100% satisfaction. That’s my promise. You will be protected,” he said.
Duterte said his relentless war against illegal drugs and criminality will also continue as he promised in the 2016 elections.
“I know that you are the stakeholders in this country and you are so many. One thing I will tell you, if we do not have law and order in this country, and if we don’t stop corruption, this country will never progress,” he said.
He added that the Philippines will not even catch up with Southeast Asian neighbors like Indonesia and Malaysia if corruption and law and order will not be addressed by the government.
Amid "trade friction" between China and US, Duterte expressed concerns over reports that President Donald Trump is coming out with a system where countries can trade with US provided they will sign a document which prohibits them from trading with China.
“I’d like to confirm this with Sonny Dominguez,” Duterte said. (PNA)
