MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will lead regional business consultations in the country to hold dialogues with local businessmen, rally them to further expand operations and inform them of the government’s all-out support for business.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary and Board of Investments Managing Head Cristino L. Panlilio said the president will be in Cebu on September 15 in Davao on the 16th and Manila (Malacanang) on the 17th to meet the business community.

Panlilio said this dialogue between the president and the business community is an initiative of the economic cluster of the Cabinet.

“This is an effort to reach out to regional centers so they would be aware of what the economic cluster to promote development in the country. The economic cluster is hitting the ground running and all support for business is provided for,” he said.

Panlilio said this business dialogue with the president would be done in every region on a regular basis.

“This is basically keeping in touch with business in the regions,” he added.

“The administration is a populist government so this effort is part and parcel of that to reach out to people,” he said.

The economic cluster is composed of the Departments of Trade and Industry, Finance, Tourism, Energy, Agriculture, Justice, Transportation and Communication, and Public Works and Highways, and the National Economic & Development Authority.

Panlilio said the economic cluster of the Cabinet has already met to discuss the country’s international gateways and toured the airports’ facilities in NAIA 1.