The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) welcomes the designation of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Presidential Adviser on Clark Projects by President Duterte. A workaholic economist, the former president practiced participative governance as I personally observed when she invited me in most, if not all, Cabinet meetings when among the topics to be discussed was on smuggling. She is indeed a dedicated nation builder that can help give President Duterte’s economic agenda for Clark City its much needed push.
Kudos Madam President for your new designation. The Federation of Philippine Industries will be ready to help you with your cause and programs for Clark City. Being a “Kapampangan” yourself, we know that your new designation is one that is close to your heart and definitely closer to home.
Thank you President Duterte for choosing the honorable Pampanga Representative and former President as your adviser on Clark Projects. You have always been consistent in your stand to give only the best in you and what your government can do to make life easier for the Filipinos.
Thus, as Chairman of FPI, an organization of manufacturers groups, and as an advocate against all forms of illicit trade and environmental denigration, I trust that you will consider Presidential actions that would enable us to recover our rivers and other water tributaries that have been constricted, if not lost, due to siltation, erosion, and most importantly human-induced accretion.
As a President who walks-your-talk, I know that you will not allow those who claim to be close to powerful government officials to ignore our laws. Like, for instance, the dry river bed in Parañaque City where I live in one of its villages. There must have been water flowing before on a dry river bed in a community near where I live. But when I saw a building structure up ahead of the dry river bed, I got the answer to my question why this place, which used to be a river, dried up. But I could not see the reason why the local officials of this community allowed the structure to be built in the first place, as it obstructed the river’s flow.
Mr. President, I’m willing to stand witness or even an accuser to those who allowed this structure to be built. As Chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries, we stand behind you in your fight against drugs, corruption, environmental destruction and all forms of illicit transactions. Needless to say, the total disregard of the environement by those involved in this environmental degradation could be partly to blame for all the destruction and deaths caused by floods in the metropolis.
When you stood your ground and never blinked an eye when you challenged the country’s powerful oligarchs who managed to remain unbothered by previous administrations, even with their sometimes exploitative business interests, I know that you will take action against all those involved in illegal activities that will jeopardize the nation’s interest and the Filipinos’ safety. The Federation would be available upon your call, and ready to mobilize its assets to help you with your cause to help make life easier for the suffering Filipinos.
Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade; a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.