Business magnate and Philex Mining Corp. chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan called for investments in tourism and mining during the BusinessWorld Economic Forum. Pangilinan emphasized the need to address poverty by spurring growth in rural areas in his keynote speech. He said that tourism and mining could do this by creating jobs in the countryside.
Pangilinan pointed out that tourism and mining businesses are usually located in rural areas which creates jobs in the locality where it resides. The said jobs, in turn, promote inclusive growth. He added that greater public-private cooperation is needed to improve people’s welfare especially those who are in the ‘bottom of the pyramid’.
The business magnate said that though there is a stigma towards mining, no one can deny that there is a considerable demand for mining products. Pangilinan warned against letting our natural resources remain fallow. For him, importing minerals we can mine ourselves ‘makes no sense’.
Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo reiterated the importance of achieving inclusive growth. Robredo said that progress that benefits only the elite is no progress at all. “Let’s celebrate disruption and innovation and create wealth and profit shared by both top and bottom,” the vice president said.
