Guingona off to China on investment mission

Vice President Teofisto Guingona will leave today for a five-day official trip to China to meet with investors interested in the rehabilitation of an integrated steel mill in Iligan City.

Together with Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, Guingona will also take part as special guest at the second anniversary celebration of the Shanghai branch of the Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) on Saturday.

Metrobank was the first Philippine bank to open in China two years ago.

Jaime Guerrero, Guingona’s chief of staff, said the rehabilitation and integration of the former Iligan steel plant was one of the four functions assigned to the Office of the Vice President by President Arroyo under an executive order.

Guingona is optimistic about the outcome of his talks with top officials of the Dalian Shide Plastic Building Materials Co., a huge plastic manufacturing firm in Dalian City, he added.

Guerrero said Guingona will also meet with Shanghai Vice Mayor Jiang Sixian and other local officials, and the 400-strong Filipino community in that city.

Accompanying Guingona in Shanghai are his wife Ruth, special assistant Stella Marie Guingona and economic affairs consultant Sixto Roxas.

The Vice President’s party will also include Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin, Lovely Romulo, wife of the executive secretary, and Evangeline Lourdes Arroyo, daughter of Mrs. Arroyo.

Guingona will be met in Shanghai by Metrobank chairman George S.K. Ty, Philippine Consul General Jesus Yabes and Metrobank vice president Duncan Wing. — Sammy Santos