THIS year, the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) community recognizes former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte for his initiatives in recognizing Chinese contributions to the development of Filipino life and culture, appreciating Chinese cultural and entrepreneurial endeavors as part of nation-building, and in furtherance the understanding, friendship, and cooperation between the two nations.

Likewise, APPCU recognizes his tremendous role during his terms as local and national chief executives in promulgating and translating into practice government policies and laws that enabled and advanced the amity and cooperative ties between the Philippines and China.