Ties with China, Russia to give businesses ‘more options’—PCCI

President Rodrigo Duterte’s seeking of friendlier ties with China and Russia would pave the way for more options for businesses in the country, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said on Tuesday.

READ: Russia eyed as new export market

In a press briefing in Malacañang, PCCI president George Barcelon welcomed the Duterte administration’s “recalibrated” foreign policy as an opportunity for more foreign investments.

“The way I read it is that the President is opening more options to us… For most businessmen, we look at opportunities in a very practical manner,” Barcelon said.

“As I said, we are neither pro-US, pro-Europe, pro-China but we are pro-Filipinos. And with all of these different countries who are interested in investing in the Philippines, we welcome them,” he added.

Barcelon said businessmen would like to reach out to potential investors and assure them that the government was “on top of the situation on crime” amid security issues arising from the bloody war on drugs.

“PCCI is the gateway. Every year, we receive so many missions from different countries. We have one that is coming in from Poland and we have another one I think, from Hungary, yeah, they’re coming,” he said.

“The confidence and the continuity of the government has shown that we will operate and we will sort of honor all contracts that will be signed. So that’s a healthy sign,” Barcelon added.

Duterte earlier said he would explore alliances with China and Russia as he continued to complain about the United States and its criticisms against extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in the government’s relentless antidrug campaign. YG/JE/rga