Palace: DTI chief postpones resignation

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said Friday that Trade and Investment Secretary Gregory Domingo will keep his post until after the country finishes hosting this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.

"We got word that si Secretary Domingo has agreed to extend or at least delay his departure until after the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) that we will have in November," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing.

Domingo tendered his resignation last week but President Aquino asked him to postpone his departure from the Cabinet.

Aquino said Domingo had long desired to quit his post and return to the private sector.

The Palace said Domingo's decision to stay in his post will allay fears that the country's preparations for the AELM and other meetings will be disrupted because of his resignation.

"Hopefully, now that he has agreed to delay his departure, then 'yung mga agam-agam po kung magkakaroon ng epekto doon sa mga meeting, sa mga hosting should be put to rest," Valte said.

After hosting various meetings starting in January, the country will be hosting the AELM on November 18 and 19. The event is expected to be attended by the heads of state of the 21 member economies of the APEC.

Valte said the country's hosting of the APEC is "going well" so far.

"We are past the halfway mark already. We have... almost four ministerials left going up into the big event, and preparations are already not just underway, pero talagang paulit-ulit na ho ‘yung pagpapraktis natin for that," Valte said.

"And, so far, our delegates have been very happy with our hosting and they’ve said so themselves," she added.

As for the heads of state who will attend the AELM in Manila, Valte said there is already a "good number of confirmations."