MANILA, Philippines - Kilusan Sagip Pinoy, a multisector alliance against poverty and hunger, said Friday that the country?s next president should have experience in managing the economy and the leadership to make economic programs work.

Sagip Pinoy president Crispin Soriano Jr. said the country?s next president should have the capability and the experience in turning the economy around because he would face the daunting task of saving the economy and solving poverty and hunger.

?What we need is a leader who can inspire confidence in the business sector because investments create jobs and the creation of more jobs always benefits the people,? Soriano said.

Sagip Pinoy earlier presented their criteria for choosing the new president in 2010, as they called for a true leader to come out and join the politicians who have already declared intentions to run for president but failed to meet these criteria.

The Sagip Pinoy movement?s criteria in choosing the next President in 2010 includes a good track record in public service even in his youth, integrity against pressure from the rich and powerful, sincerity in the fight against corruption, and decisiveness and competence in times when action is needed.

Soriano said the country?s next president should have experience in managing an economy and turning it around after a slump, just like what happened in Subic, Zambales, and neighboring towns when the US was forced to abandon their military bases in the 1990s.

Subic and other towns in Zambales were also devastated by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, which dumped volcanic ash and flooded provinces in Central Luzon with lahar flows.

He said that when the Philippine Senate refused to renew the stay of the US naval base in Subic, the local economy suffered a slump but good economic planning allowed Subic to become a freeport to provide employment to at least 90,000 workers in the freeport alone and stimulate the economy of neighboring areas.