Saturday, December 09, 2017

Duterte: Economic growth possible only with peace

By Argyll Cyrus Geducos

President Duterte expressed confidence that the country would be able to attain economic growth, especially in the countryside, if there is peace and order in the land.

Duterte claimed the Philippines is still a safe place for investors and tourists alike but called for unity to achieve the country’s economic target.

The President, in a speech in Clark, Pampanga, assured that with the people cooperating with the government, attaining economic growth will not be a difficult task.

“Let me reiterate that the Philippines remains a safe place for visitors and continues to be a conducive investment destination. Rest assured that we are undertaking measures to encourage travelers to come here so they can have a more fun and exciting experience in the country,” he said in a speech in Clark, Pampanga.

“I ask each of you to join me in spurring economic growth and fostering unity and solidarity. Let us show to the world what the Philippines has to offer — our world-class hospitality, sumptuous food and unique heritage,” he added.

However, for this to fully materialize, Duterte highlighted the importance of having peace and order, especially in the provinces, following the collapse of the peace talks with the communist rebels.

“I will improve the economy. But first of all, I hold it as an article of faith that no progress or development can ever really hold even — lalo na sa (especially in the) countryside if there is no peace at all,” the President said.

Duterte said he wants to improve the country’s agriculture sector, the industry he claimed to be lagging behind. However he said that first there has to be peace in the area.

“We have to improve the manufacturing side of the agricultural sector. That is the only way how we can improve things. But we have to have law or peace there,” he said.

Duterte also took swipe at the communist rebels anew who kept on collecting revolutionary taxes from companies and establishments.

“Eh itong mga komunista left and right ang hingi eh. Iyong bagong pumapasok diyan (But the communists there keep on extorting. Even the new ones), they start to extort,” he said.

“And they say that they are helping the Filipinos for what? Subsidizing what? How many members of the politburo are there? The central committee,” he added.

According to Duterte, he pities the youth who follow the ideologies of the Left, saying it contributed nothing to the society.

“‘Yung mga bata nagpapakamatay ito (The children are willing to die) for the belief or the ideals or the ideologues na wala naman talagang ma-contribute (that were not really able to contribute anything),” he said.

“It’s too late in the day to introduce even the simplest form of socialism. The Filipinos will never be ready for it. Wala talaga tayong magawa (There’s nothing we can do about it),” he added.

Duterte officially terminated the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) last week by signing Proclamation No. 360.

However, Duterte stated that there may still be chance for the peace talks to be revived but not in the near future.

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