Foreigners interested in investing in the country must pay taxes and give the “right salaries” to their workers, President Duterte said last Wednesday.
The President made the appeal after reminding businessmen not to allow undocumented workers and illegal drug activities in their places of businessmen.
“Go ahead. Make money. Make your profit. Pay the right taxes, pay the laborers the right salaries, and then I will assure you that your return of investment, your ROI, you can get it anytime you want. That is the long and short of my guarantee to you,” he said during the launching of the Golden Topper Group in Parañaque City.
“Just do it right, follow the rules, and we will follow as… If there’s a breakage in the rule, let me know and I will correct it immediately at once,” he said before a group of Chinese business executives.
The President recognized that the investments would not only generate tax revenues for the government but also provide job opportunities for Filipinos.
“You come and do business and make your profit, as many as you can and as plenty as you can. In that way, you can help the Filipino worker find jobs. That is my only gain there. Not so much about taxes. It’s employment generation for my brother Filipinos,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, the President said he appreciates investments coming into the country but made an appeal against hiring undocumented workers. Golden Topper, a Chinese real estate firm, intends initially to build two residential development projects in the country.
“While I recognize the potential of these projects to help the Philippines withstand future challenges in the global (economic) setting, I nonetheless stress that your buildings should never serve as a haven for undocumented foreign workers or for the manufacture of and trafficking of illegal drugs,” he said.
Duterte also urged the foreign businessmen to “behave” and follow the country’s laws. He likewise warned against involvement in the illegal drugs trade, saying he would not hesitate to kill those involved.
“If you go into drugs, if you are a drug lord, or if I catch you importing or manufacturing drugs in this country and you destroy my country in the process, I will kill you. Make no doubt about it,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)
