P-Noy to continue Phl sales pitch in Japan

TOKYO – President Aquino begins today his four-day official working visit here to continue his sales pitch for the Philippines.

The President and his delegation are expected to arrive at Haneda airport at past 2 p.m. and meet with the Filipino community at the Japan Education Center at 4 p.m.

Aquino will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Tuesday and with Emperor Akihito on Wednesday. He will also meet with Japanese legislators.

Aquino will have separate meetings with several major Japanese companies, the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee and the Japan and Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The President will also address the Philippine Economic Forum and witness the signing of some business agreements. Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investments head Cristino Panlilio has pegged the expected investments at $1.1 billion.

Documents show Aquino will also try to convince the Japan International Cooperation Agency to continue its development assistance, particularly to Mindanao.

The President, in all his trips, has been highlighting the reforms initiated by his administration to level the playing field for investors.

Some of the companies scheduled to meet with the President are the Yakazi Corp. and Tsuneishi Holdings Inc., Marubeni Corp., Toyota Motor Corp., Pocketmon, Ichijo Co. Ltd., Mitsui Co. Ltd. and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd.

Aquino will also witness the signing of the partnership agreement between Federal Land and Orix Corp. on the Grand Hyatt Hotel project in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

P20-M expenses

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government expects to spend about P20 million for the Japan trip.

She said Aquino’s “small” delegation of 63 people include Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II, and Presidential Communication Operation Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.

The trip comes two days after Aquino arrived in the Philippines from a five-day official visit to the US, where he discussed anti-corruption measures with other world leaders.

“The trip seeks to foster the strong relations with Japan. The President wants to express solidarity with the Japanese people because they faced a serious tragedy. The President wants to know how the country recovers (from the tragedy),” Valte told radio station dzRB yesterday. She was referring to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan and left thousands dead or missing.

She said the President’s main message to Japan is “the Philippines is open for business, we are under new management.”

She said Aquino and Noda are expected to talk about issues like climate change, regional cooperation, the Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement and territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

“Usually, issues of regional importance are tackled, concerns on disaster preparedness in light of what happened,” Valte said.

Japan is expected to extend to the Philippines a 9.2-billion yen loan for forestland management projects.

On Friday, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said the visit of the President was aimed at strengthening the Philippines’ strategic partnership with Japan as one of its top trading partners and primary sources of investments.

Lazaro said the visit would also be an opportunity for both governments “to further strengthen and cement the special bonds of friendship cultivated by both countries over the last 55 years.”

Lazaro confirmed a statement made by Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe last week that President Aquino and Noda would have an “exchange of views” concerning the West Philippine Sea but “within the context of maritime security.”

“Let’s put it this way: The issue on the West Philippine Sea, otherwise known as the South China Sea, will be discussed under regional issues that include maritime security, climate change among others,” she said.

Urabe earlier said poor infrastructure and bureaucratic red tape are turning off potential Japanese investors in the Philippines. - With Alexis Romero, Pia Lee-Brago