PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte had successive courtesy calls at Malacañang's Music Room on Wednesday afternoon with Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, and Asian Bank Development president Takehiko Nakao.
In a video posted by Presidential Broadcast Staff-RTVM on its Facebook page, the President was seen warmly welcoming Vidal at the Palace and kissing his hand.
Vidal, according to the statement released by the Presidential Broadcast Staff-RTVM, told Duterte that he will pray for him and the country's success.
The President was earlier criticized for his insensitive remark against Pope Francis. He had also become a staunch critic of Catholic priests, after revealing that he was violated by a priest when he was young.
Duterte also had a lively discussion with Belmonte, who was joined by his daughter Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.
Belmonte's assistant reportedly said that the former House Speaker gave his all-out support to Duterte's administration while his daughter discussed the actions made to fight against drugs in Quezon City.
On the other hand, the Presidential Broadcast Staff-RTVM said Nakao discussed the ADB's support to the administration's 10-point economic agenda.
In a statement, Nakao lauded Duterte's early efforts to consult the private sector, in order to ensure a level playing field for all businesses and uplift the lives in the marginalized sector.
He then assured that the ADB will work closely with the government to help institute a more progressive tax system and tax administration, increase competitiveness and the ease of doing business, accelerate infrastructure development with public-private partnerships, promote rural development and value chains, invest in human capital, and strengthen social protection through conditional cash transfers.
"I was very impressed with President Duterte's clear messages on building confidence on public service delivery, respecting contracts and transactions already approved and awaiting implementation, removing red tape, and fighting corruption," Nakao said. (Sunnex)