16 Cabinet members to join Duterte’s third visit to Japan

Sixteen Cabinet members are expected to join President Rodrigo Duterte for his third official trip to Japan since assuming office in 2016.

According to a list provided by Malacañang, the official delegation of the President included Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

Also on the list are Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Acting Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr., Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Carlito Galvez Jr.

Duterte will fly to Tokyo on Tuesday afternoon to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and speak at the 25th International Conference on The Future of Asia on Friday.

The President will also meet with Japanese businessmen and the Filipino community in Japan.

More than 20 business agreements worth nearly P300 billion will also be signed by Philippine and Japanese firms during the President’s trip.

The investment pledges will be mostly in infrastructure, manufacturing, electronics, medical devices, and business process outsourcing, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.

It will also cover electricity, transport, automotive, food manufacturing, and marine manpower industries.

The DTI said the investment pledges would create at least 80,000 jobs.

Duterte previously visited Japan in October 2016 and October 2017.  — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News