Presidential bets give a peek into their economic teams, health chiefs

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidates on Sunday gave voters a peek into who will compose their respective economic teams and possible health secretaries, should they get elected.

During the presidential debate hosted by CNN Philippines on Sunday, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno were asked who will compose their respective economic teams.

Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declined to attend the debate.

“I cannot name names at this time. Ang kailangan talaga maalam sa economy. Walang trade off between health and economy. Ang paghandaan natin kasi ngayon mag-transition from pandemic to endemic dapat may policies nila-lay out,” Lacson answered, adding that there will be a partnership between the government and private sector in the event of a crisis.

(What we need is someone who knows the economy. No tradeoff between health and economy. What we’re preparing for now is the transition from pandemic to endemic, there should be policies laid out.)

Gonzales, meanwhile, said participation in the economy’s growth should be expanded.

“Dapat i-expand natin ang mga magpa-participate na magpapalago ng ating ekonomiya lalo na sa emergency situation. Kaya bubuksan natin ang source ng capital para maibigay natin sa lahat ng nagnanais na magkaroon ng hanapbuhay,” he said.

(We should expand participation in the country’s economic growth, especially in emergency situations. We will give anyone who wants to have a livelihood access to the source of capital.)

Without disclosing names, Pacquiao said he already has someone in mind to head the finance department.

“Unang-una, may napili na po ako para diyan sa finance pero hindi ko lang po babanggitin sa inyo. Pero kailangan po talaga na natin naka-focus po, naka-sentro tayo du’n sa tinatawag nating revenue income ng gobyerno,” he shared.

(First, I have already chosen someone for finance but I will not mention it to you. But, what we need is to focus, concentrate on what we call revenue income of the government.)

For Moreno, someone who is good in the field of economics would be picked.

“We will hire somebody who is very good in that field of undertaking. But what matters most is the people. Mga kababayan, ang una-una kong gagawin na may gobyerno kayong masasandalan sa hirap ng buhay,” he said, noting that public-private partnership will be utilized under his administration.

(Fellow Filipinos, the first thing I will do is a government that you can lean on through the hardships of life.)

Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo and former presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella were asked who their respective health chiefs would be.

“Hindi ko po papangalanan, pero sigurado na ang (I will not name him/her, but be assured that the) health secretary, number one, expert in the field. Number two, napakahusay na (a great) manager dahil kailangan ito  because it is a need). Number three, respected by his peers or her peers. And number four, definitely hindi magiging (not a) political ‘yung (the) appointment,” Robredo stressed.

Abella likewise refused to disclose a name but enumerated the descriptions of his preferred health chief.

“I cannot give you the name of course but we’re already going through the process, ‘yung proseso ng pagpipili (of choosing). There are three things that we want out of them. Number one, must have integrity. Number two, intelligence and number three is energy. And then we also need somebody of course with a medical background and then definitely medical background tsaka mayroon din po siyang (and with a) managerial excellence,” he said.

The other presidential hopefuls — Leody De Guzman, Faisal Mangondato, Jose Montemayor — were not asked the questions.

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/MUF