SONA 2014: PNoy urged to listen to private sector more

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III should be tough and fire cabinet members who are not performing, an analyst said.

In reply to philSTAR's emailed questions, Victor Abola, economist at the University of Asia & the Pacific, said that for this year's State of the Nation Address, he hopes Aquino does away with "constant demonizing of past sins, and exaggerated claims of achievement."

Abola cited as an example of "exaggerated claims of achievement" the "exportation of expensive rice as indicative of of our becoming self-sufficient."

"He should have looked at the declining levels of rice inventory," Abola added.

For the president's performance, Abola said he is giving a "fair" or "average" grade to him.

"For the economy, the good points were the passage of the law liberalizing banks for more foreign participation should put more competition in this area, and reduce spreads a bit; also, the implementation of K+12;  politically, the pursuit and abolition of PDAF, standing up to China in the latter's continued incursion in Philippine territory (Recto bank, West Philippine Sea).  For the negative side, economics-wise, ?the changing of rules of the game in the water and power industries; continued anti-mining stance; poor handling of relief and reconstruction work in Yolanda-affected areas, poor implementation of PPP particularly those originating from DOTC, nonchalance on Manila's truck ban, believing his DA secretary that we would be self-sufficient in rice, thus, not importing early enough  rice; ; as for political side, the poor reaction to the Supreme Court decision on DAP, despite claims to increased transparency, not pushing for the passage of the Freedom of Information bill," Abola added.

He also urged the president to become a "uniter" rather than a divider and that he should not be lenient on his party allies.

"The president should listen more to the private sector to validate what his secretaries are saying. To rid himself of non-performing secretaries, like the DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communication) top officials (who rely on press releases, rather than solving problems in LRT/MRT and PPP), Mar Roxas for bungling the relief/reconstruction work in Yolanda-affected areas, " Abola said.

The reconstruction of Yolanda-hit areas should also be made a priority and that Panfilo Lacson as the rehabilitation czar should be given more powers and funding to do the same.

Abola believes that the economy will do better, but the administration would have to formulate longer-term plans following constraints in PDAF (Priority Development Assistant Funds) and DAP (Disbursement Acceleration Program).

"I think the administration will do better. I think some key PPP (Public-Private Partnership) will finally be implemented," he said.