PRRD assures Japanese of corrupt-free business in PH

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the business forum at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan on May 29, 2019. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — Japanese investors can expect a competitive and corruption-free business climate in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday vowing to “kill” all forms of corruption in government.

“I just assure you that during my time I said there will be no corruption,” said Duterte in his speech during the Business Forum at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan.

Duterte urged Japanese investors to report to him any complaint regarding hindrances, obstruction or outright corruption and he would ask his Cabinet members to respond to it immediately.

“I will give you at any hour of the day or night you can contact any of the Cabinet members or your Filipino lawyers or Filipino workers, and you can ask an audience with me in 24 hours and I will talk to you and just let me know what your problem is and we will kill that problem,” he added.

Duterte also spelled out the Philippines’ economic priorities which include addressing the issue of economic market access for Philippine agricultural products and service suppliers in the construction of projects.

He took pride in the Philippines being a “natural choice” for Japanese companies looking for the manufacturing base in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and high-value Knowledge Process Outsourcing or KPO ventures.

The President also invited Japanese investors to take part in the “Build-Build-Build” infrastructure program which is expected to generate jobs for Filipinos.

He also boasted of the upgraded Philippines’ credit rating to BBB+ by Standard and Poor, the highest rating in our history.

“Given all these, your investments are assured of protection and gains I guarantee that. And as a matter of fact, I place my honor in what we promised to our partners especially the Japanese and the Japanese people,” Duterte said.

Duterte, meanwhile, reiterated the Philippines commitment to maintain a “stable and predictable environment” for business partnerships between the Philippines and Japan.

“More than Build-Build-Build, let us work together to Grow-Grow-Grow our economies,” Duterte said.

Duterte is currently in Tokyo, Japan to attend the 25th Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia.

The President’s trip has yielded a total of 26 business agreements and letters of intent worth PHP288.894 billion signed between Philippine and Japanese companies.