DTI chief: Philippines reaped gains from ASEAN chairmanship, foreign trips

MANILA, Philippines — Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez justified on Tuesday that presidential foreign trips are “very productive visits” as international commitments and business investments flourished after President Rodrigo Duterte led this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.

In a televised press conference, Lopez said Duterte has established a “tremendous goodwill” relationship with ASEAN countries after his foreign visits. He cited how the president became friends with other leaders.

“The presidential visits are very productive visits. Being the ASEAN chairman, President Duterte considers himself obliged to really visit each of the ASEAN leaders,” Lopez said.

Lopez added that the Cabinet also meets with their counterparts in bilateral meetings.

“It’s very important to have that kind of strong relationship at the top because everything else will follow. All the agencies under the respective bureaucracies would be working very well and very smoothly,” he said.

Aside from ASEAN countries, the Philippines is also scoring investment commitments from China, Russia and Japan.

“Actual signing of purchase orders are taking place,” Lopez said, adding that Chinese investors issued a $1.7 billion purchase order in February this year.

Business-to-business deals have also flourished after the president’s visit to Japan, he said.

Lopez explained that assembly and manufacturing of cars have started immediately after Duterte secured the commitment of the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy Program in Japan last year.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors have then started building subcompacts in the country.

“The program is definitely a positive factor in terms of creating employment locally and increasing local content or sourcing from local suppliers that will benefit the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in the country,” Lopez said.

Lopez also reported that the Philippines received $9 billion in official development assistance each from China and Japan following the series of bilateral meetings with their leaders.

Asked about the businessmen's expenses during Russia trip, Lopez clarified that they paid for their own expenses.

The DTI chief's remarks came after reports that Duterte's trips cost thrice more than his predecessors. — with reports from Rosette Adel