SMX 2, SM Lanang Premier, Davao City
21 June 2016

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte spoke in front of 800 Filipino businessmen, government officials and other guests during the second day of Sulong Pilipinas: Hakbang Tungo sa Kaunlaran Consultation Workshop held at the SMX 2, SM Lanang Premier, Davao City.

The two-day workshop aimed to generate suggestions from the business community regarding the incoming administration’s proposed 10-point socio-economic agenda.

Among the top recommendations were tax reforms, a national ID system, improved internet speeds, better support for farmers, responsible mining, support for the improvement of regional industries and its workforce, improved means of transportation, 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) and strengthening public-private partnerships (PPP).

In response to the business sector’s recommendations, incoming President Duterte said, “I assure you we will study and review it… If it’s a matter of just doing it, implement it right away.”

The event was convened by incoming Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez with the help of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Mindanao Business Council (MBC). It is anchored on the long-term Filipino 2040 vision and the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The second day of the workshop also included a town hall meeting between the business sector and the incoming administration’s Economic Cluster which include the following Cabinet members — Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Arturo Tugade, Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones, Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, among others.

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