BEIJING – President Duterte gave his contact number to Chinese businessmen interested in pouring investments in the country for any concerns or complaints.
The President made the gesture as he affirmed his no-nonsense campaign to fight corruption and ensure a friendly business climate during his meetings with top executives of several Chinese companies last Sunday night.
Among the businessmen who paid a courtesy call on the President came from China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd., China Railway Group Ltd., China Poly Group Corp. and Poly Technologies Inc., and the China International Maritime Containers Group.
“The President usually just gives them three quick simple messages,” Sen. Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a media interview last Sunday night.
“No. 1, no corruption. Come in to the Philippines, there’ll be no corruption. No. 2, a direct line to him if there is corruption,” Cayetano, who was recently named the next Foreign Affairs Secretary, said.
The President’s third and final promise was to let the businesses to flourish as long as they follow the country’s tax and labor laws.
“No. 3, just do your business well and you will have a fair return and you can…the money you make, you can bring home. Kasi may ibang bansa that the money you make has to stay in that country. So usually, he sticks to that message and it’s been very well received by businessmen,” Cayetano said.
He said no actual agreements were forged during the President’s meeting with the Chinese businessmen. The businessmen merely grabbed the chance to introduce themselves to the President and update him about their plans to do business in the country.
“After the President speaks, sasabihin nung kumpanya, we’re very interested in going into the Philippines,” he said. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)