Noy to businessmen: Good news must not be lost

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino called on businessmen yesterday to  consider the country and the people in their decisions, and that good news must not be lost in planning for a long-term stay despite the challenges that the Philippines would  face.

“As the leader of an organization of sorts – though an exponentially larger one – perhaps you will let me offer some advice: as you advocate for the sectors you represent, keep in mind that you are operating within the context of the nation,” he said. Aquino spoke to officials of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry,    Philippine Exporters Confederation, Employers Confederation of the Philippines and the Anvil Business Club during their oath-taking at the Malacañang yesterday. 

He said he was taught in school that to be able to compete in the global marketplace, one would have had to show competitiveness in the domestic market, and thus the administration had been trying to level the playing field, the absence of which would give rise only to inefficient monopolies or oligopolies.

“The concerns of businesses and the common Filipino should not compete against each other; in fact, if we are to create progress that is truly sustainable, the empowerment of both these sectors should be aligned,” he said.

“After all, it is the Filipino worker that populates your offices; it is the Filipino wage-earner that spends money on your products and services; it is the Filipino parent that instills values and knowledge in their children who will then sustain the virtuous cycle of prosperity and empowerment that we are experiencing now.

“Indeed: we are all treading this path together. With your partnership, we can take even greater strides for your sectors and the millions of our countrymen, who with us are moving towards a more just, more progressive and more equitable future.” 

Aquino said after almost four years in office, it was not an exaggeration to believe that the Philippines was already experiencing a taste of this hopefully lasting progress.

“That when I ask businessmen like you about how your enterprises are faring, you can answer confidently that you are doing better than ever,” he said.

Aquino said Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad observed a seemingly general disconnect between the front page and the business page – how so many business groups were gung-ho about the Philippines, while others just stopped short of prophesying doom.