DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on early Friday morning, April 13, arrived from his visit to China and Hong Kong, underscoring that his visit would yield 10,000 jobs for Filipinos.
President Duterte was in Hainan, China earlier this week for his attendance to the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference as well as his working visit to Hong Kong.
He said that his visit to China has yielded an estimated US$9.8-billion in investments, which would generate 10,000 jobs for Filipinos.
“The nine business agreements signed during my visit yielded an estimated value of 9 to 8 billion dollars in investments. These are projected to generate more than 10,000 jobs for our countrymen and women,” Duterte said in his speech upon his arrival at the Davao International Airport.
Among the business agreements signed include the exploration opportunities on land reclamation and development by Shanghai GeoHarbour Group, building and operation of LNG receiving terminal by Jovo Group Co. Ltd, development of large tourism projects, electronics industry parts by Zhongfa Group, and infrastructure and construction project and thermal power supply by Haocheng Group.
China Green Agriculture Group also intends to explore agriculture and tourism opportunities in cooperation with the Philippines’ Calata Corp.
Other Chinese companies wanting to invest in the country are East-Cloud Biz Travel Ltd, which wants to venture in the tourism sector; China National Heavy Machinery Corp. for the development of China-Philippines International Techno-Industrial Zone; Shanghai Shinehigh Biotechnology Ltd and Zhejang Dongyang Chemical Co. Ltd for the establishment of pharmaceutical factory; and Sino BMG for the putting up of an aerated concrete block production facility in the Philippines.
The President’s visit likewise forged six new bilateral agreements between the government of the Philippines and the Chinese government.
“Among these is the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the employment of Filipino teachers of English language in China,” Duterte said.
“This allows for the employment of 2,000 Filipino English language teachers starting this year and will be valid for two years, subject to renewal,” he added.
Among the bilateral agreements signed in President Duterte’s visit to China include the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the People’s Republic of China; the Exchange of Letters on the Phase III of the Technical Cooperation Project for the Filipino-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology; the Exchange of Letters for the Pre-Feasibility Study of the Proposed Davao City Expressway Project; the Exchange Letter for Broadcasting Equipment to the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO); the Memorandum of Understanding on the Employment of Filipino Teachers of English Language in China; and the Preferential Buyer’s Credit Loan Agreement on the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project.
According to the Chief Executive, the Chinese government will also provide 500 million Renminbi in grant assistance.
At the Boao Forum for Asia held in Hainan, China, President Duterte said that the leaders discussed the importance of an “open and innovative Asia for greater global prosperity,” and recognized that Asia is a critical global growth engine.
“We strongly emphasized the need for economic cooperation, coordination and collaboration to achieve the development our peoples,” President Duterte said.
The President underscored the importance of providing a safe, secure and stable environment in the region’s land and waters for economies to thrive.
In his bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Duterte said that both countries have committed to sustaining the vigor of the Philippine-China relations.
“We both underscored the need for further intensify cooperation in trade and investments, tourism, agriculture, defense, science and technology, and energy, among others,” President Duterte said.
The Chief Executive added that the Philippines would continue to seek the expansion of areas for mutually beneficial collaboration, consistent with the laws.
In his working visit to Hong Kong, meanwhile, the President said he met with the overseas Filipino workers and reported to the Filipino Community the developments in the country. He also reiterated his vow to do everything to further improve the situation in the Philippines.
President Duterte: I do not go for any percentage acceptability
Meanwhile, President Duterte said in his press conference that he “does not go for any percentage acceptability,” when asked about his reaction on the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The latest SWS survey revealed that the President’s trust rating remained “very good” with a satisfaction rating of +56, but showed an 11 percent drop in his satisfaction rate in Luzon and Metro Manila.
President Duterte however said that he does not go by surveys, noting that he is doing his best to comply with his mandate as the Chief Executive.
“It’s you who has to accept my performance because I promised it to the people,” President Duterte said.
“I do not have to be popular because I do not need it. I do not care about how you rate me. My job is to implement what I promised,” he said, noting improvements in addressing corruption, criminality and illegal drugs.
He also said that he would like to improve hospitals, particularly in Jolo and Basilan.
“Wala silang CT scan, wala silang MRI… and competent doctors. But ngayon kasi, they can just read it doon sa machine and the reading of the x-ray can be done in Manila, to the experts, and they can transmit or convey there, improve diagnosis if there’s a need,” Duterte said.
“Gusto ko ibigay muna ito sa… those that really, really, urgently immediate ang needs,” he added.
