President Duterte has encouraged the country’s business magnates to report any red tape and irregularity in the bureaucracy for proper action.
The President met behind closed doors with several business tycoons in Malacañang Wednesday to tackle concerns of the business community in the country.
“I heard PRRD telling them if they have any problem with respect to red tape or anything that is not compliant with law they could go direct to him,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said about the President’s meeting with the business leaders.
The President earlier vowed to continue combating corruption and red tape in government, admitting that the country was “corrupt to the core.”
Duterte has repeatedly warned government officials against getting involved in corruption and abuse, saying he would not hesitate to fire them. Previously, he urged businessmen to slap corrupt government officials in front of him to humiliate them.
Also present in the meeting were House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, and Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.
Among the business leaders who attended the Palace affair were Phoenix Petroleum and Udenna Corp. chair Dennis Uy, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. chair Manuel Pangilinan, International Container Services Terminal Inc. global corporate head Christian Razon Gonzalez, and SM Prime Holdings chair Hans Sy. (Genalyn Kabiling)
