Senate Grants Aussie Businessman Filipino Citizenship

Senate Grants Aussie 

Businessman Filipino Citizenship

The Senate approved a bill seeking to grant an Australian businessman Filipino citizenship for his involvement in the business sector in the Philippines.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who sponsored House Bill No. 4537, said Peter Leslie Wallace, provided advisory services to more than 160 multinational corporations as well as the Philippine government, specifically on foreign investments.

Wallace, who began work in 1957 as a cadet engineer with the Amalgamated Wireless of Australia, came to Manila in 1975 and worked as the chief executive for three multinational companies before founding AYC Consultants and the Wallace Business Forum in 1982.

“As chairman of the Wallace Business Forum, he is responsible for the organization’s operations in maintaining a strong, local program for the chief executives of Philippine subsidiaries of multinational companies, major Philippine companies, embassies and international aid agencies in the Philippines,” Pimentel said in his sponsorship speech.

He said Wallace, who is the president of the Caliraya Lake Conservation Society, had been championing for the preservation and protection of the lake and watershed of Lake Caliraya over the years. Wallace also initiated the search and rescue facility and instituted safety measures for the use of the lake, and conducted various livelihood programs.

“Mr. Wallace has been actively involved in the Philippine business community for a good 34 years, and has developmed close relations with senior government and business leaders,” Pimentel said, adding:

“His contributions to the Philippine business community, as well as in the socio-civic arena, no doubt of make Mr. Wallace eligible and more than qualified for conferment of Philippine citizenship.”

HBN 4537 was filed by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Representative Neil Tupas, Jr. /MP