Palace on Phl growth: Reform measures still need push

MANILA, Philippines - While the local economy is at its peak and business confidence is overwhelming, the government’s reform measures still need a consistent push for these to have a trickle down effect on the masses, a Malacañang official said.

Even as the Aquino administration is now in the second half of its six-year term, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said they are fully aware of the comments of stakeholders, particularly economists, local or foreign.

“While the government has done so much to institute badly needed governance reforms, it must continue to display and exercise the political will necessary to follow through on these measures,” Ochoa said in a speech Friday during the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Office of the Ombudsman on the government’s campaign to weed out corruption.

The MOA, Ochoa pointed out, is one proof that the Aquino administration is serious in its anti-corruption agenda as it is “just one of the many steps we have taken, and will continue to take, to make good on our commitment to institutionalize good governance.” 

It was the first time that a high-ranking government official, apart from Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, has admitted that the robust economy has yet to benefit the poorest of the poor.

Aquino has rejected such observations, however, saying the country is now a rising tiger, refuting claims that poverty remains unchanged since 2006, and that unemployment rate is also at its highest, blaming this on the summer heat where farmers refuse to plant.

He said the main reason is that farmers in the agricultural sector have decided to “delay” their usual planting season due to the scorching heat, as per statistics provided by the Department of Agriculture.

“It was reported that farmers delayed their planting in April. Unfortunately, the survey also was done in April. So, at the time they conducted the survey, there was a coincidence in the delay,” Aquino explained.

Thus, it is but logical for surveys to record the decline. “There is this perception that if it’s too hot and there are unfavorable weather conditions, the farmers do not want to plant,” Aquino said.

“As you know, farmers will always want – will have the weather dictating their planting cycles. There have been offsets, improvements in the industry and service sectors; wage and salary workers working fulltime increased in both sectors,” he pointed out.

Ochoa, for his part, has assured Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales of full cooperation and strict compliance from all agencies in the executive department, adding that a “directive” will be out soon outlining the guidelines on the carrying out of the MOA.

The MOA signed between the Office of the President (OP) and the Ombudsman is aimed at strengthening further the government’s reform measures in weeding out bureaucratic corruption.

It delves on the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the Integrity Management Program.

The event was held in simple ceremonies at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang on Friday.

Ochoa said the signing of the MOA is one of the many steps the Aquino administration has taken and will continue to take, to make good on the government’s commitment to institutionalize good governance.