A group of young Filipino-Chinese businessmen on Wednesday hailed President Duterte’s economic programs, saying these could lead to inclusive growth and development.
“The business programs he [Mr. Duterte] brought up are very positive for the country’s inclusive growth,” George Siy, Anvil Business Club Inc. (ABC) chairman emeritus, told reporters in a press conference.
Siy said Mr. Duterte should continue focusing on the neglected economic priorities, such as the country’s transportation sector.
“Before, the focus is on opening major airports, but now, the President wants to improve all airports and ports in the country,” he said, citing the present status of the Cagayan de Oro Airport, which he said suffers from poor electricity and management.
Siy also said it is good that the President wants to utilize the roll-on, roll-off (Roro) transportation method as it will help ease the shipment of goods.
“The Roro will decrease the expense of transporting goods by as much as 50 percent,” he said.
Marcelo Co, ABC chairman, said the administration’s campaign against drug is a positive note for businessmen, because it will give them assurance of peace and security for their businesses.
“What struck me most is his peace and order thrust,” Co said. “As a businessman, what will you do with your earnings or even a high GDP growth, if you are afraid to go out because of criminality and such?”
Co said President Duterte is different from previous presidents because of his decisiveness and practicality in his economic plans.
“He’s very practical in terms of economic development, which would mean an improvement in the lives of the people. He launches 911 [emergency service]; he wants to fix the telecommunication industry. These things are what we need,” he said.
For ABC Chairman Eduardo Cobankiat, the government’s programs for the agriculture sector would result in an “inclusive economic growth.”
Siy and Cobankiat said Mr. Duterte is gaining the confidence of businessmen in the country because of his sincerity in his proposed platforms.
“He’s very bold in his pronouncements and people are willing to support him. And his actions are very fast. That’s why a lot of businessmen want to do business now in the country because they see the President’s sincerity,” Siy said.
“He wants to solve the crime and corruption. It’s music to the business people. If this gets solved, then tourism will boom, investors will come in, then these will create jobs,” Cobankiat said.
As part of the group’s silver anniversary celebration this year, they will be organizing the Anvil Summit 2016, with the theme “Giants Level Up! Extending Your Boundaries,” to express their support to the Duterte administration.
“This business summit is an invitation to foreign businessmen to invest in the country. This is a way to showcase that the Philippines has good economic growth,” Siy said.
“The summit is meant to inspire the youth and promote entrepreneurship among them, in line with the administration’s thrust for business development,” Co said. “This is the best way to celebrate our 25th anniversary.”
ABC’s biennial event, which started in 2013, will be held on September 9 at Marriott Hotel Manila, where prominent people from various industries will share their success stories, Cobankiat said.
“Two of the four invited speakers really came from poverty. Galing sa wala. Everyone will surely learn from them,” he said.
Tech entrepreneur and inventor Dado Banatao, who “became part of a computer club with Steve Jobs and who made over half-a-billion-dollar fortune by inventing PC chip sets,” will be the event’s keynote speaker. Jojo Concepcion, CEO of Concepcion Carrier; Engr. Edgar Saavedra, president of Megawide Construction Corp. and Jon Ramon Aboitiz, chairman of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, will also serve as speakers in the Anvil Summit 2016.
The ABC is an organization of young Chinese-Filipino businessmen and professionals, aged 21 to 50, “committed to propagate positive values in promoting a healthy economy, progressive society and pursuing excellence in our respective fields of endeavor, for the economic and social progress of our country.”
Image credits: Roy Domingo