President Duterte has said that the Philippines needs peace and order to attain economic growth, especially in the countryside.
Duterte said the Philippines is still a safe place for investors and tourists and called for unity to achieve the country’s economic target.
The Chief Executive, speaking at the Kapampangan Food Festival in Clark, Pampanga, said 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.
“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.
For this to fully materialize, Duterte emphasized that peace and order is needed, 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 countryside if there is no peace at all,” the President said.
Duterte said that he wants to improve the country’s agriculture sector but said that there first has to be peace in the sector.
“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 criticized communist rebels who keep on collecting revolutionary taxes from companies and establishments. “Eh itong mga komunista left and right ang hingi eh. Iyong bagong pumapasok diyan, they start to extort,” Duterte 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.
Duterte took pity on the youth following the ideologies of the Left, saying it contributed nothing to the society.
“’Yung mga bata nagpapakamatay ito for the belief or the ideals or the ideologues na wala naman talagang ma-contribute,” he said. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
