Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria A. Concepcion III said President Duterte should focus on the administration’s economic plan, instead of getting involved in political spats, such as in the impeachment complaints against the Chief Justice and the Ombudsman.
Concepcion urged Duterte to take charge of the administra-tion’s infrastructure program, dubbed the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB), as this will benefit primarily the majority of the population.
“I think it’s very important that we remain focused on the economic agenda. The programs of [the administration], the massive infrastructure build, which is very important, which creates greater connectivity, will enhance…the development, especially for many of the Filipinos who are at the bottom of the pyramid,” Concepcion said in a news briefing on Monday.
Concepcion was responding to a query on whether the President should stay away from too much political noise, which a business group finds disturbing.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) over the weekend expressed concern over the brewing tension between Duterte and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes A. Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who are both facing impeachment charges in Congress.
“Let me put it this way, if I was an investor, and I was looking at the Philippines as an investment target in the beginning or even the middle of the year, the picture would have been more encouraging,” PCCI President George T. Barcelon said.
“The government’s economic team is not slowing down, but the perception can be unsettling. Hopefully, things can quiet down,” Barcelon added.
This was seconded by Concepcion, saying it is important for the Chief Executive to keep his eyes on the prize, which is the infrastructure program, as this is what will affect industries, such as agriculture, trade and tourism.
“When you improve your logistics cost and bring it lower because of a better road, if we’re able to connect the south and the north freeways together, you can imagine, the cost of logistics will go down,” Concepcion explained. Nonetheless, the presidential adviser said he has full confidence in the President on his commitment to deliver on his promises listed in the BBB program. “I’m confident that, under President Duterte, who is a strong-handed leader and really wants to make it happen, the secretaries will see to it that it will happen.”
“Our President is looking toward the future, and I think we should all try to look at the future rather than what’s today,” Concepcion added.
The administration is dead set on completing big-ticket public infrastructure projects, such as the North Luzon Expressway Harbor Link, Luzon Spine Expressway, Philippine National Railway North and South Rails and the Metro Manila Subway. The government intends to achieve this dream by increasing infrastructure-to-GDP ratio to 7.4 percent, which will amount to as much as P8 trillion by the end of Duterte’s term in 2022.
To buttress the infrastructure program, the government has allocated hefty budgets for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The DPWH and the DOTr are expected to receive P643.3 billion and P70.8 billion in 2018, respectively.
However, as the PCCI pointed out, much of public attention is drawn to the verbal attacks of the President against Sereno and Carpio-Morales. The Chief Justice and the Ombudsman are facing impeachment charges on alleged corruption, among others.
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If my memory is correct the president’s first words after he was declared the winner of the 2016 May elections he said “..let the healing begin!” After almost two years this administration has created more ‘enemies’ in and out of the country and critics all over the world! His popularity ratings are down not even reached his second year and its all downhill. A true and genuine leader of this nation should be able to “unite the many and defeat the few “, inspire the people to do good and instill discipline for nation building and development including strengthening gender awareness, equality and political correctness. Sadly none of the above has been accomplished. It is not too late for Concepcion, Pernia,Diokno,Lopez and even Briones to guide the president towards the path of unity based on justice, freedom, equality and inclusive growth.