President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government is focusing on boosting productivity with much improved infrastructures through the administration’s Build Better More program to attract investments that will uplift the living condition of Filipinos.
During the Philippine Economic Briefing hosted by Ambassador Ted Osius at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, the President was asked about his government’s plans to facilitate international partnerships and collaborations for the benefit local businesses in the Philippines. President Marcos said the government is working to address the shortfall in physical connectivity, in line with the ASEAN’s efforts to increase connectivity within the region.
If the Philippines were to regain its leading role in the ASEAN pre-COVID, then connectivity and supply chain must be improved, Marcos pointed out.
“So for our part, that’s what we’re doing and that brings us now beyond just the pure economic considerations because now there are political and diplomatic considerations, because these partnerships are now essential,” Marcos explained.
“The economy is well— I know we’ve heard it many times but I think today we can absolutely— without fear of contradiction, we can absolutely say that the economy is truly global and we must again, view all that we do in that context.”
And that’s the reason why conferences and summits such as the PEB with public and private sectors coming together are so important, noting partnerships and alliances, both political, diplomatic, economic have stabilizing effect, according to the President.
President Marcos was also asked how the investment on digital connectivity and infrastructure could affect the lives of Filipinos.
In terms of spending, President Marcos said there is a clear delineation about the government’s responsibility and what is assigned to do as against the role played by the private sector.
Citing digital infrastructure, a school or a village for example, Marcos said that with much improved connectivity, students and the public could be able to use the internet resulting in financial transactions convenience and increased productivity.
“And that is what we’re really going for because when we look to successful economies that have had to pick themselves up after war for example, and the COVID was kind of a war so, we have to pick ourselves up from that,” Marcos told the meeting participants.
“It is productivity, it’s an increase in productivity and that’s what we’re trying to achieve. Infrastructure— the physical infrastructure, a better— a more efficient transport system, a cheaper transport system, all of these will increase the productivity of every single Filipino worker,” he said. PND
