Economy going strong amid ouster calls – Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Amid calls for President Aquino’s resignation in the wake of the Jan. 25 Mamasapano carnage, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte underscored yesterday the economic achievements of the administration, which “remains unswerving in its dedication to steer the country toward ever-greater progress.”

Valte said over radio dzRB the economy continues its upbeat performance – as demonstrated by the local stock exchange’s successive all time index highs – even as she dismissed calls for President Aquino to resign because of the Mamasapano fiasco.

Last Monday, Aquino presided over a board meeting of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) during which six infrastructure projects were approved: the Panguil Bay Bridge Project, which would connect Tangub, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao del Norte; Phase 1 of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project, which would involve the construction of an elevated commuter railway from Malolos to Tutuban; the North-South Railway Project South Line, which would connect Metro Manila and Legazpi City, Albay; the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) Project; the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) Connector Project; and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) Project.

“Totaling over P370 billion, these projects aim to improve connectivity in the country, consistent with the administration’s goal of boosting our transportation system,” Valte said.

She said the business sector continued to expand with the influx of foreign companies and investments. “And our FDIs (foreign direct investments), if I may just point out, have also doubled from the recent years...which...will translate into capital in our country and then eventually to employment and jobs for our people,” Valte said.

On Friday, as a way of strengthening this partnership, officials of the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) and Paul Polman, global chairman and CEO of Unilever, paid separate courtesy calls on Aquino.

SMBC’s recently approved plan to set up a Manila branch is expected to help facilitate the entry of Japanese investors in the country, Valte said.

The President also met again on Wednesday with the families of the 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force commandos who were killed in the operation to arrest terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

“As we have pledged from the beginning, the government is committed to securing the futures of the bereaved families,” Valte said.

Valte said the government continues to address other national priorities while dealing with the Mamasapano issue.

She said the President’s economic team is focused on implementing programs to help the country achieve inclusive growth.

Busy days ahead

She said the President has numerous engagements and concerns in the week ahead, including leading the nation in the celebration of the 29th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Feb. 24 and 25.

French President Francois Hollande is also expected to visit the country on Feb. 26 and 27 and meet with Aquino, reports said.

On calls for the President to resign, Valte said they “obviously disagree” with the position of presidential uncle former Tarlac congressman Peping Cojuancgo and his wife Tingting that Aquino must step down. She also said they would leave it up to the spokespersons of Vice President Jejomar Binay to comment on reports that he has agreed to be part of an advisory council that would temporarily govern the country in case Aquino steps down before the end of his term in June next year.

“Whether their position...on the President’s resignation, as they want to call it, has impacted on their personal relationship with the President, I cannot say for sure because I am not privy to that personal relationship,” Valte said.

Valte said she did not know if the President had spoken with his unsympathetic relatives, whose motives, she said, were unclear.  – With Marvin Sy, Eva Visperas

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