By Mae Singuay

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez will be accompanying President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on an official trip to Japan from February 8 to 12.

The President will meet Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to sign bilateral deals which include a $3-billion loan as well as development agreements on defense, agriculture, information and communications, and disaster relief.

“The official working visit is expected to reaffirm the strong and vibrant relations between the two countries,” Nathaniel Imperial, assistant secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said.

Benitez will designate Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran as the acting city mayor. Meanwhile, the mayor also hopes that his travels will draw potential investors to Bacolod.

This will be the third time that Benitez will travel with the President.

The first was in the United States in September 2022 and the second was in China last month./MS, WDJ