Frederick Go confident Luzon Economic Corridor will continue under Trump admin

Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go expressed confidence that the Luzon Economic Corridor would continue as Donald Trump returns to the White House.

''Well, that's what the trilateral partners are telling us. This is a trilateral G7, which includes now the US and Japan, and there are other countries who want to join the corridor project,'' Go told Palace reporters.

''So, we're now in discussion of how to make the corridor more inclusive to the other countries that are interested in participating,'' he added.

The Luzon corridor initiative aims to connect Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas, which will include high-impact infrastructure projects such as ports, rail, clean energy, semiconductors, supply chains, as well as other forms of connectivity in the Philippines.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto has said this project is envisioned to become a prime location for export-manufacturing firms, positioning the Philippines as Asia's top destination for cutting-edge production and innovation.

Asked if the government has any prospect for US-Philippine relations on the economic corridor under the Trump administration, Go said Manila has few trade agreement requests for Washington. However, he did not disclose them.

At present, all systems go for the Luzon Economic Corridor, according to Go.

''Right now, it's for the rail, for the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Rail, it's with ADB... ADB is finalizing the terms of the study. They also have identified specific projects within the corridor that I think I'm not at liberty right now to discuss. But definitely, they have already seriously, like in the first step already of the projects they're considering,'' Go said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News