The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
Inday Sara with world leaders in China
DAVAO CITY - In a surprise act for Dabawenyos, Mayor Sara Duterte-carpio brushed shoulders with world leaders as President Rodrigo Duterte’s First Lady in his latest working visit to the People’s Republic of China.
Wearing an aquamarine dress, the presidential daughter accompanied the President to the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 at the BFA International Convention Center in Hainan Province.
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The President and the Davao City mayor were standing side-by-side posing for photographs with world leaders during the forum. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his First Lady welcomed the President and Mayor Sara.
Her presence in the forum drew various comments in social media with netizens pushing Mayor Sara to run for senator and even the presidency in the coming elections.
Venus Echavez-jung in her comment on the Facebook page of the Presidential Communications Office, said: “Under training na si Sara! She has to learn it by travelling with PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte)! Maybe it's too early but there is a possibility that she will run as president in some years! She will follow the footsteps of her father! Nice seeing you Mayor Sara! Good luck!”
One netizen named Jed commented: “...And it seems Mayor Sarah is being groomed for something.”
Boao Forum is an inter- national dialogue platform for Asia Pacific countries and other partner nations and organizations from all over the globe with an aim of bringing together heads of state, business elites, academic experts and media personalities.
Duterte-carpio and son Mateo Lucas joined the President’s high-level delegation to China. It was also the mayor’s first time to accompany the President on his working visit.
The President underscored Asia’s role in the world economy. “Asia is projected to continue its growth through the year 2050. By then, our generation is seen and the region itself to account for more than half of the world’s GDP,” he said, pointing out that Asia as an “engine of growth is poised to make a larger footprint on the global economy.”
“And every country in Asia – big or small – has a role to play and its own contribution to make,” he said. For the Philippines, Duterte said, “We want a society where there are opportunities for all. We want a nation where the hard-working, the talented, and the law-abiding can advance together and move up [the] socio-economic ladder.”
The Philippines has nurtured the dream for a comfortable life for the people, according to the President. “We are slowly making the Filipino dream a reality. As we strive to [push] our economy forward, we encounter challenges. But we will not be deterred. We seek to partner with responsible businesses --home-grown and foreignbased --- to drive the progress we envision,” he said.
The President reported on his administration’s progress in improving the country’s peace and order situation, the fight against corruption and strengthening the policy framework for businesses to thrive.
He also spoke on the government’s milestone by spending five to seven percent on infrastructure, bring down poverty from 22% in 2015 to 14% by 2022, and achieve a growth of 7%-8% every year up to 2022. He stressed on his administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program which will provide the solid backbone for growth.
“This will continue to upgrade the infrastructure, connect more people and communities and create more jobs,” he said and announced that the government already started a three-year rolling program amounting to over US$69 billion until 2022.
“We are investing in innovation – in government processes, in technology and in human development. By 2022, the Philippines sees itself as joining the top one-third [in] the Global Innovation Index,” he said.
The President also stated the government’s commitment to invest on improving skills of Filipinos to improve competitiveness; to apply Science, Technology and Innovation in agriculture and the (service) industries; invest in improving research and development and intensify international cooperation in this area.