PRESIDENT Benigno S. C. Aquino III arrived in Japan yesterday for a four-day official working visit and immediately met with the Filipino community, promising concrete results in the government’s anti-corruption campaign by yearend.
Fresh from a similar working visit from the United States to attend the launch of the Open Government Partnership and address a World Bank-International Monetary Fund event last week, Mr. Aquino arrived in Tokyo by mid-afternoon and addressed an 800-strong crowd at the Japan Education Center in Tokyo.
Mr. Aquino recounted efforts to unearth alleged abuses in the past administration and vowed action before the year ends.
“Uumpisahan natin iyan bago matapos ang taon na ito at sa konting kooperasyon ng hudikatura, baka makulong na natin ’yan sa susunod na taon [We will start prosecuting before this year ends, and with a little cooperation from the Judiciary, perhaps we can put these people in jail by next year],” he said.
Mr. Aquino reiterated his goal to encourage trade and take advantage of the opportunity to “open the door for stronger trade and commercial activities” with Japan and subsequently generate employment for Filipinos.
“Sa puno’t dulo nito, nananatiling isa ang batayang diwa sa mga pagbisita tulad nito: ang makagawa ng mas maraming trabaho para sa mga Pilipino [The ultimate goal of this visit remains the same: to create more jobs for Filipinos],” he said.
According to the Palace, the President is scheduled to visit today the evacuation center in Miyagi prefecture and visit the earthquake- and tsunami-devastated coastal area. He will also turn over an assistance package to the local community.
Mr. Aquino will end the day with a dinner hosted by Marubeni Corp.
His meetings on Tuesday, the schedule further noted, will be with the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee and the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while the afternoon will be devoted to delivering a keynote address to the Philippine Economic Forum.
The highlight of the day is the meeting between Mr. Aquino and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, followed by a dinner hosted by the Japanese leader.
On Wednesday, his last day, the President will entertain calls from other Japanese government and business officials, and the International Friendship Exchange Council.
Mr. Aquino will also attend a state luncheon with Emperor Akihito, followed by an afternoon meeting with the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Prior to the delegation’s departure, Transportation Secretary Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas II said in an ambush interview at the airport that the visit will “widen and deepen our economic relationships with Japan,” the Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement “that is the foundation of all these trade, investments and ODA (official development assistance).”
Mr. Roxas also noted that he intends to take up the matter of continuing Japanese direct assistance to infrastructure projects, including the Light Rail Transit (LRT) expansion to Bacoor, Cavite, and several airports, including those in Cagayan de Oro, Laguindingan in Misamis Oriental and Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Mr. Roxas noted that the government’s strategy is to use ODA for infrastructure projects.
“We are reconfiguring the projects so that the heavy infrastructure is through ODA financing, which is 1% [in interest fees] for 30 years,” he said.
Mr. Aquino and his delegation is expected to arrive in Manila at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
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By: J. P. D. Poblete
Source: Business World, Sept. 25, 2011
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