President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to ensure that Japan’s projects in the Philippines will be free from red tape, Presidential Spokesperson Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr. said.

“He [the President] pledged his commitment to ensure that Japan projects will receive attention and free from bureaucratic delays whether government-to-government or business-to-business,” Mr. Roque said in a televised press briefing at Sara Municipal Hall in Iloilo on Thursday, Feb. 22.

Mr. Duterte had met with Philippine and Japanese conglomerates at the Malacañan Palace last Wednesday.

At the meeting, according to Mr. Roque, “the President thanked Japan for their wholehearted support for his government programs, and for the humanitarian assistance they have extended to the Filipino people.”

In a statement from the Presidential Communications Office last Wednesday night, the Palace said Mr. Duterte had likewise met with the “representatives of the Philippine-Japan Economic Cooperation (PHILJEC) to tackle infrastructure programs.”

According to the Palace, “PHILJEC aims to promote, strengthen and expand trade, economic, scientific technological advancements, exchange assistance to business endeavors in both the Philippines and Japan.”

“It was designed to be a forum for private sector dialogue and the exchange of ideas geared towards the enhancement of Philippines-Japan relations.”

Moreover, in their courtesy call to the President, the Philippine conglomerates had “discussed competitivess and macroeconomic fundamentals, infrastructure and innovation matters to the President,” the Palace said.

Present during the meeting were Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda, Marubeni Corporation Chairman Teruo Asada, Mitsubishi Corporation Chairman Ken Kobayashi, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) International Division Manager Masazumi Nishizawa, and Japan Airlines Chairman Masaru Onishi. — Arjay L. Balinbin

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