CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 25 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo
Duterte on Saturday asked China
President Duterte arrived at the Provincial Capitol of
Bukidnon in Malaybalay City as an honored guest of the province’s Kaamulan
Festival, an annual project of the provincial government designed to lure both
domestic and foreign tourists and for the groundbreaking of the largest drug
rehabilitation center in Mindanao.
He arrived in Bukidnon Saturday noon and delivered an
impromptu speech after Bukidnon Governor Jose Maria Zubiri introduced him to a
cheering crowd of about 50,000 people.
In his speech monitored by the Cagayan de Oro-based
Magnum Radio, President Duterte asked Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines
Zhao Jianhua to extend to Bukidnon China’s first agricultural assistance to the
Philippines.
The President expressed elation over the presence of Ambassador
Jianhua, something which seldom happened in the past.
“I would like to take this rare opportunity to ask
Ambassador Jianhua to bring the first agricultural tractor to Bukidnon in order
that the province’s agricultural industry could be developed to the fullest,”
he said.
The President also encouraged the people of Bukidnon to
plant crops that could be exported to China, saying that China no longer
restricts agricultural products from the Philippines.
He said China currently accepts 100 percent all bananas
exported from the Philippines while pineapple exports to China stand at 75
percent.
“China would buy all agricultural products from the
Philippines and it is high time that the country’s agricultural industry take
the opportunity to plant any agricultural product for export,” President
Duterte said.
The Chief Executive recounted that when the country was
exporting its produce to the United States, the US government would impose
product standards, leading to the rejection of the Philippine exports.
However, when the Philippines began exporting its produce
to China, the US also began accepting the country's crops.
“Actually, we remain friends with the United States, but
we should not rely so much on Americans anymore because we have close friends,
neighbors like China,” President Duterte pointed out.
Before leaving for Davao City after his speech, the
President led the groundbreaking ceremony of the PHP700-million Drug
Rehabilitation Center in Casisang village at the outskirts of Malaybalay City.
The proposed drug rehabilitation center, the largest in Mindanao, would house
an administration building, three dormitories, training centers, gymnasium and
three basketball courts when completed in December.
He said he directed the construction of the drug
rehabilitation center in Bukidnon to make the center accessible to neighboring
provinces and cities, such as Cagayan de Oro City and Davao City.
