‘Leave RP if we’re going nowhere’

Businessman Jose "Joey" Concepcion III, President Arroyo’s consultant for entrepreneurship, is challenging detractors of the President to leave for abroad if they honestly believe the country is going nowhere.

In a recent speech before members of the Filipino-Indian Chamber of Commerce, Concepcion took exception to continuing criticisms of the country and its leaders.

Concepcion singled out Australian Peter Wallace of the Wallace Business Forum who annually comes out with critical reports about the Philippine economy.

"If he really believes the country is going nowhere, what is he doing here?" Concepcion asked, adding, "it is wrong to spread a spirit of pessimism."

Such criticism does the nation no good, he said.

What the country needs, according to Concepcion, is more positive news, especially about successful Filipino entrepreneurs.

"It is sad how some enjoy putting people down. What we need is more Filipinos to inspire others," he said.

"There is a need to spread the spirit of optimism."

Concepcion is optimistic about the country’s future and predicts further appreciation of the peso.

According to the third-generation Concepcion, the local currency could appreciate to a strong 48 to $1 if there is a shift to a parliamentary form of government.

The continued appreciation of the peso is due to the implementation of the expanded value-added tax and control over the budget deficit, Concepcion said.

Furthermore, Concepcion believes that "2006 is going to be a great year for the country."

Local entrepreneurs are not bothered by the political noise and continue to go about their business, he said.

Such entrepreneurial spirit, Concepcion stressed, needs to be nurtured.

"For the country to move forward, we have to encourage more people to create new businesses. We have to start thinking positive," Concepcion urged.

He cited the fact that there are actually a lot of Filipinos overseas "who believe that there is a future."

This is evidenced by the numbers of overseas Filipinos buying real estate in the country, he said, noting that Filipinos abroad account for 70 percent of local real estate buyers. — Marianne Go