US, Phl companies to push for more collaborations

A Filipino-American organization co-chaired by business titan Manuel V. Pangilinan is pushing for greater collaboration between US and Philippine firms in key sectors of the economy as part of a “modern, multi-dimensional, 21st century US-Philippines relationship.”

The US Philippines Society (USPS) said yesterday it is embarking on a new initiative to explore opportunities between American and Philippine companies to partner together in areas such as telecom, construction, energy, agriculture and airplane parts.

Pangilinan said the sectors are specifically identified since “they affect what the economy needs.”

“There’s clearly a need for the Philippines really to expand its contacts with American companies,” Pangilinan said.

“We need to promote better visibility of those US companies here, particularly in respect with the Build Build Build program,” he added.

The USPS said it sees solid growth in business between the two countries, driven by strong domestic demand in the Philippines and remittances.

USPS co-chair John Negroponte said the group is pleased with the level of engagement coming from both sides, a sign of more bullish US-Philippines relations moving forward.

“We believe that relationship between Philippines and US is alive and well, that we are alike countries, we have shared histories that goes back a long, long way, and we hope to continue to build on that strong tradition,” Negroponte said.

“There has been a lot of economic changes in the US. We’re open for business. US is a very attractive to do business with. I’m sure that’s something of interest to the Filipino business community and to the Filipino people,” he added.

As part of efforts to strengthen Philippines and US ties, USPS president John Maisto said the group’s board passed a resolution in support of the return of the Balangiga bells to the Philippines.

President Duterte, in his State of the Nation Address in July last year, demanded the US the return of the Balangiga bells taken by US troops from a town in Samar in 1901.