Palace refutes Sin on gov't direction

President Estrada was "extremely disappointed" over Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin's latest criticism of his government, Presidential Spokesman Fernando Barican said yesterday.

Barican told reporters that Sin was "not exactly accurate" when he said that the Estrada administration lacked direction and blamed the President for serious economic problems, rising prices and unemployment.

"He (Sin) chose not to mention the improvement in the country's economy despite the effects of the Asian financial turmoil," Barican said, adding that "the economy is on the road to recovery."

Sin, in his homily at the opening Mass for the Marian Congress in Manila last Thursday, pointed out that the Estrada administration was "a government seemingly without direction."

He warned of an "unclear, frightening future" as he said that there was "much to be afraid of," referring to a number of problems which confront Filipinos.

The prelate enumerated these problems as the rising prices and jobs lost, seemingly uncontrollable violence and pornography, bills seeking to legalize divorce and abortion, the proliferation of illegal drugs and corruption in high places.

Barican, however, said the President believes that Sin did not closely examine the facts. And he added that Mr. Estrada did not take Sin's criticism lightly.

Contrary to Sin's charges, Barican said the country's economy had grown by at least three percent last year and is expected to do even better this year.

He also said that the rising prices of basic commodities being blamed by the cardinal on the President were not very accurate as the inflation rate last December was pegged at only 4.3 percent despite the series of oil price hikes.

On the loss of jobs, Barican explained that contrary to the cardinal's claims, the Estrada administration was able to create a million jobs last year and reduce the unemployment rate from 13.3 percent in 1998 to 11.8 percent.

And he challenged Sin to come up with concrete suggestions, not just criticisms.

"Does he have a concrete suggestion for us to do better? The government would be happy to hear it," he stressed.

Meanwhile, Barican said that the President was optimistic that his statement on the nation being "in crisis" which he alleged was taken out of context by the media would only have a temporary effect on the country's economy.

"I suppose many investors remained in the stock market despite these stories and interpretations," he said.

The President made his controversial statement last Wednesday during the National Prayer Breakfast at the Manila Hotel. He denied it the next day, however, after the statement hit the newspaper headlines.

Barican said Mr. Estrada was hoping that those "familiar with the basic fundamentals in the Philippines are not going to run hither and crow simply because of a speech or a line that they may have misunderstood.

"We're confident that in the short run, after yesterday's headline has faded, that this interpretation (of the President's statement) is going to have no lasting effect on investors' confidence on our country," he said. --