Senatorial aspirant Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Liberal Party standard-bear Mar Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Echoing the administration’s call for continuity of reforms in governance, Liberal Party senatorial bet Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Thursday said President Benigno Aquino III’s six years in office would not be enough to transform the Philippines into a more developed nation.
Citing the case of other Asian countries like Singapore, Pangilinan, who is seeking a third term in the Senate under the “Daang Matuwid” coalition, said it would take at least 12 to 15 years or even two decades to fully institute reforms in the country.
“Six years is not enough. And anyone who is expecting such in six years’ time is setting himself up to disappointment,” Pangilinan told reporters at a forum in Quezon City.
“We need a consistency in policy to address inclusive growth… Other countries had their fair share of consistency and continuity. And because of that consistency in policy making, naging progresibo silang mga bansa (they have become progressive countries),” he said.
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Pangilinan, who ran as an independent candidate in 2007, said his belief in consistency made him run under the administration slate of Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo.
But the former presidential security adviser said he was not pitching continuity just because he was part of the ruling party.
“I’m not saying this because kasama ako ng administration (I was part of the administration). It’s what the credit agencies, the World Bank, and businessmen are saying. They’re also saying na sweet spot at rising star ang Pilipinas (that the Philippines is in a sweet spot and it is the rising star of Asia). We are now in the next phase so critical ito (elections),” Pangilinan said.
“Hindi tayo pwedeng magpalit ng kabayo sa gitna ng karera dahil maiiwanan na naman tayo (We cannot change horses in the middle of a race because we will be left behind). That’s why this is so important. That’s why we are in the Daang Matuwid coalition,” he added.
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Pangilinan said inclusive growth remains to be a challenge despite “major headway” in economic growth in the Aquino administration.
“While there is development, we still need to address joblessness and poverty. We need to continue with the reforms, and that’s what our standard-bearer also spelled out,” Pangilinan said, pitching a “farm revolution” through improved agricultural infrastructure and increased income for farmers as the “right strategy.”
Pangilinan said the LP was in a “good place” especially that seven out of 12 senatorial bets made it to the “Magic 12” of the recent Pulse Asia survey.
“That tells you something already in terms of nationwide support. I think we have significant national support. But we cannot rest. We like more. There’s a strong support for our senate slate. We still have 80 plus days at marami pang pwedeng mangyari (and a lot can still happen),” he said. IDL