President Rodrigo Duterte brought home more than US$185 million worth of loans and investment pledges from his trip to Singapore during the 32nd Association of South East Asian Leaders Summit, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
In a press briefing, Roque said the President witnessed the signing of US$185.7 million worth of investment agreements with Singaporean companies on the sidelines of the Asean Summit.
The investment commitments are expected to generate some 1,920 job opportunities for Filipinos.
He said the President assured the Singaporean businessmen that there would be no corruption in his administration.
“For as long as I am there, there will be no corruption in my government,” Duterte said.
“Do not give in to them. All you have to do is to make a call I said and I will grant you anytime especially about graft, about workers in government asking for money,” he added.
The Chief Executive said he would task the departments of Trade and Finance to come up with measures that would make the process of doing business in the country “simpler and easier.”
Meanwhile, President Duterte said that he and his fellow leaders agreed that the time-honored principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs should be observed.
“This we made clear: In our relations with the larger community of nations, Asean and its partners should uphold and honor the time-honored principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs,” he said.
During the summit, Duterte said that three key documents that will facilitate the region’s vision for greater community, centrality and connectivity were adopted.
In the discussions, the President said he raised the need to continue broadening cooperation to address terrorism and violent extremism.
Likewise, he underscored deepening collaboration to dismantle the illegal drug trade apparatus, counter piracy and combat criminality.
Another key focus of President Duterte’s dialogues in Singapore was the protection and promotion of the rights and the well-being of Filipino migrant workers.
“We pushed the ASEAN Consensus on the protection and the promotion of the rights of the migrant workers and their families,” he said, adding that primers published by the Philippines were distributed and nations were encouraged to use them.
“As I said, your government will take every opportunity to articulate our principled position on protecting migrant workers and our countrymen and women,” the President added.