Ochoa heads caretaker committee

MANILA, Philippines - Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. heads the caretaker committee while President Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay are out of the country.

Aquino will return home on June 9 or 10 after an official trip to the United Kingdom and the United States.

Binay will arrive today from a 10-day trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the US.

He left the country last May 28.

In Kuala Lumpur, Binay attended the Philippines-Malaysia Investment Partnership forum on May 29.

Binay spoke at the Philippines-Malaysia Investment Partnership Forum, where business leaders and investors from the Philippines and Malaysia exchanged ideas on how to further enhance the already dynamic economic partnership between the two countries.

Binay then proceeded to the US and attended the 5th Global Housing Finance forum in Washington on May 31.        

Binay said Malaysia is the Philippines’ 9th largest trading partner, with total trade amounting to almost $3.8 billion.

On the other hand, the Philippines is Malaysia’s 11th largest export market valued at $1.4 billion and the 8th largest import market valued at $2.4 billion, he added.

He was able to highlight investment opportunities in tourism, infrastructure, energy, Islamic banking and finance, processed food, including halal, information technology, business process outsourcing and other services, electronics and automotive parts and components during the forum in Kuala Lumpur, Binay said.

At the 5th Global Housing Finance Forum, Binay met World Bank executive director Rogerio Studart and shared the Philippines’ experiences and how the Philippine government addresses the concerns of the housing sector, primarily the demand for decent, affordable and climate-resilient housing for working Filipinos.