PRESIDENT Duterte’s meeting with the country’s top businessmen on Tuesday night was so productive that it bore offers from the private sector to develop agriculture, housing, telecoms, health care and power infrastructures in Mindanao—particularly in far-flung and war-torn areas.
Manuel V. Pangilinan, who chairs Metro Pacific Investments Corp., described the meeting with the President as “excellent” and “productive,” so much so that businessmen were able to voice out their plans to aid the new administration in ushering inclusive growth down south.
“It was an excellent occasion to see the President up close and personal. I thought it was a very productive meeting with him. And it is good for the private sector to communicate with the President what our concerns are and what we can do to help government efforts, particularly in the poorest areas in the country,” he said in a chance interview. Discussions circled around developments in Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.
“There was a lot of discussion in the Sulu area, and certain areas in Mindanao where the private sector can help. We offered and suggested areas where we can help,” Pangilinan said, adding that their commitment was to fully support the government.
Particularly, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and PLDT Inc. are interested in developing Mindanao’s health care, telecommunications and agriculture.
“We want to develop hospitals, telecoms, housing through Gawad Kalinga and, possibly, a coconut-oil mill in Sulu, which is an island that has lots of coconuts,” Pangilinan said.
San Miguel Corp., on the other hand, proposed to build power plants in Basilan, which was first floated during a Christmas benefit in Malacañang last December. However, no deal was signed during the meeting.
“Well, to concretize them, we have to sit down with the agencies. It’s good to have this kind of dialogue. This is the first time the President sat down with the business groups. In my recollection this is the first time in my experience with five to six presidents. We have much to be thankful for,” Pangilinan said.
Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Joey A. Concepcion and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arranged President Duterte’s meeting with the country’s top executives on Tuesday night.
Aside from Pangilinan, also present were Ayala Corp. Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, SM Prime Holdings Inc. Boardmember Hans Sy, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. President Erramon I. Aboitiz, International Container Terminal Services Inc. Chairman Enrique K. Razon, LT Group Inc. President Michael G. Tan and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President George T. Barcelon.
In a television interview, Concepcion said discussions among the group included the government’s endeavors to stop labor contractualization, or endo, the migration to the federal form of government, the war on drugs, illegal gambling, a microentrepreneurship program and a revamp of the tax system.