Kapatid Conglomerates and poverty alleviation

PRESIDENTIAL Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion arranged a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte together with Kapatid conglomerates last month. The objective of this meeting is to express our support to the President in helping areas of conflict and extreme poverty in the country.

For more than three hours, the big brothers and President Duterte shared an insightful discussion on the current efforts to help alleviate poverty and other matters concerning the business community. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez also joined the discussion and answered some questions from the conglomerates.

After identifying the areas experiencing extreme poverty in the country, PA Concepcion shared the need to help these areas by providing infrastructure such as housing, telecommunication satellites, electric power and water supply systems, and capacity building through mentorships and trainings. Aside from these, contractualization, tax reforms, employment generation, federalism, and drug-related issues were also tackled.

Following the successful meeting with President Duterte last February 1, Presidential Adviser Concepcion arranged another meeting with Finance Secretary Dominguez together with the Kapatid Conglomerates to discuss more business and finance issues including tax, budget allocations, investments, and most importantly, the projects concerning the areas of extreme poverty.

PA Concepcion shared the top 10 areas of extreme poverty which include Sulu, Bukidnon, Compostela Valley, Sultan Kudarat, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Masbate, Catanduanes and Sorsogon. These are the areas of focus for socio-economic development under Go Negosyo’s Kapatid, Angat Lahat program – the first private-public partnership project of this administration. Go Negosyo partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry led by Secretary Ramon Lopez and Department of Agriculture led by Secretary Manny Piñol.

Secretary Dominguez echoed the support of President Duterte and assured that the government has allotted a budget for the development of Armm.

In addition, Secretary Dominguez also asked for the support and cooperation of Kapatid conglomerates for his tax reform bill.

The exemplary economic team of President Duterte composed of Secretary Ramon Lopez, Secretary Carlos Dominguez, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Ernesto Pernia, and Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno are one in the mission of boosting the economy.

Dominguez also shared that there are also upcoming projects which will be implemented in the coming years. Investments and foreign trade partnerships are being fostered as well.

The meetings were attended by Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (Ayala Corporation), Teresita Sy-Coson (SM Investments Corporation), George Barcelon (Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Erramon Aboitiz (Aboitiz Equity Ventures), Manny Pangilinan (MVP Group of Com- panies), Doris Magsaysay Ho (Magsaysay Group), Alfred Ty (GT Capital Holdings), former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Cong. Arthur Yap, Tony Tan Caktiong (Jollibee Food Corporation), Federico Lopez (First Philippine Holdings), Kevin Tan (Megaworld), Enrique Razon (International Container Terminal Services), Lance Gokongwei (JG Summit Group), Josephine Gotianun-Yap (Filinvest Corporation), Alice Eduardo (Sta. Elena Corporation), Michael Tan (LT Group), Injap Sia (Double Dragon Properties),Tomas Alcantara (Alson Consolidated Resources), Hans Sy (SM Prime Holdings), Dr. Francisco Duque, Dr. Domingo Yap (Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry), Ginggay Hontiveros and Merly Cruz (Go Negosyo).

The Kapatid conglomerates are part of the movement to bring about inclusive growth in the country. The constant communication and close coordination with the President and his government officials through Presidential Adviser Concepcion shall strengthen the private-public partnership that have been established since the beginning of the Duterte administration. - Kapatid Conglomerates