(From left) Sen. Bongbong Marcos, lawyers Lorna Kapunan and Harry Roque, and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo grace the first Radyo Inquirer Issues Forum in Olongapo City. YUJI VINCENT GONZALES/INQUIRER.net
(Updated) OLONGAPO CITY—Four candidates vying for national positions were one in saying that a business-driven infrastructure and a business climate that supports the private sector’s needs, not only confined in Metro Manila, are needed to generate more jobs in the country.
During the first Radyo Inquirer Issues Forum here, vice presidential aspirant Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said the government should work closely with businesses and highlighted the role of public-private partnerships to provide employment to more Filipinos.
“Ang unang dapat gawin ng ating pamahaalaan ay isang tinatawag na massive infrastructure development plan dahil hindi natin kayang palaguin ang ekonomiya kung hindi natin mabibigyan ng sapat na imprastraktura ang private sector para maging ka-tandem sa development,” Marcos told locals, media, and supporters at the Rizal Triangle Multipurpose Center in this city.
“Dapat, ang plan ginagawa kasabay ang mga negosyante para sa ganoon, alam ng pamahaalan ang plano ng pribadong sektor sa kung ano ang kaya nilang ibigay o ipatayo para sa ating pangangailangan,” he said.
Marcos lamented that about 5,000 Filipinos have had to leave the country every day to search for jobs abroad.
“Kung makahanap naman ng trabaho dito sa Pilipinas, hindi ka nakakatiyak sa security of tenure; ibig sabihin dahil pinuputol ang kontrata, hindi nakakatiyak ang mga manggagawa kung sila ay magkakatrabaho pa sa susunod na buwan o hindi,” Marcos added, hitting the prevalent practice of labor contractualization in many industries.
The son and namesake of the late dictator said infrastructure was not only about building roads and bridges, but also establishing training centers for workers and improving the Internet system.
“Business-driven infrastructure–ibig sabihin, kung ano ang pinaplano ng pribadong sektor, ibig sabihin dapat handa ang gobyerno na makapag-provide,” he added.
Echoing Marcos, senatorial aspirant and lawyer Lorna Kapunan said the problem with the Philippines was the high cost of doing business, adding that government should conduct short-term, midterm, and long-term economic planning.
Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo, who is also vying for a Senate post, said industrialization and development are metrocentric, noting that business must also flourish in the provinces outside Metro Manila.
Lawyer Harry Roque, who is running for party-list representative, urged the government to expand its conditional cash transfer program by training Filipinos for their livelihood.
“Ang gobyerno ang pinakamalaking employer… sang-ayon ako sa 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), pero dapat na ma-train para sa livelihood,” Roque said.
“Dapat ang gobyerno ‘wag maging balakid sa mga naghahanapbuhay na lalo sa agrikultura,” he added.
The Radyo Inquirer Issues Forum was created to provide voters more information on the different views of candidates on different issues and how they would address these issues, if elected. Its first ever forum will air on DZIQ-990khz on Wednesday, March 23, at 9:30 AM with a replay at 7:00 PM. JE
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