Tessie, Joker: Economic growth must be felt by Filipinos

The reported high growth rate last year would mean nothing if it is not felt by the common man, Senators Tessie Aquino Oreta and Joker Arroyo said yesterday.

Sen. Edgardo Angara, meanwhile, was skeptical of the reported 4.6 percent increase in the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2002, saying he wants to examine the details first.

The National Economic and Development Authority reported that the GDP growth rate last year was higher than earlier predicted, and the highest since 1997.

"Malacañang’s rosy prospects will mean nothing but cold statistics and will be greeted with widespread skepticism by ordinary Filipinos unless they get tangible benefits from this in the form of more jobs, better delivery of basic services and lower cost of food, electricity and water," Oreta said.

Arroyo said that the high growth rate would be "meaningless" if the people will not benefit from it.

He said he is hoping that the reported growth rate is really true.

"Last month, we were told that our electronic imports were understated," he recalled.

Angara said he wants to know if there was more production and more jobs created last year that fueled the GDP growth.

"If not, I want to know how a jobless growth could come about," he added.

In a related development, Sen. Robert Jaworski urged yesterday Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo to stop the National Food Authority (NFA) from buying almost 800,000 metric tons of rice from abroad. – Efren Danao