We found best, brightest in gov’t – FMJ
By Nidz Godino
“And I said, well the first 100 days will be finding the best and brightest to help and serve in government, I think we have managed to do that… I think we have… I am always very grateful to …our economic managers, to those experts who have come and decided to join government because we know that they are very successful and this is sacrifice for them,” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr’s administration has managed to find “best and brightest” officials to help and serve in the government during his first 100 days as president.
President Marcos was asked during President’s Night organized by Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) on what he considered as his accomplishments and things that he could have done differently as he marks his 100th day in office.
The President remembered the first time this was asked during campaign period.
“It is really all about service on their part…we’re always grateful for their talent. ..and to have them in place already I think gives us distinct advantage as we try to transform our economy for the next few years,” he stressed.
President Marcos’ administration has also put together government “functional” and has “very good” idea in targeting economic targets.
He also make their officials understand that they are here to govern and to help country recover amid COVID-19 pandemic.
“Make all our officials understand that as government we are here to govern, we have been put here to try our best to pull us out of this terrible crisis that we have just been suffering for the last two years, I think we have achieved that,..it is that sense of urgency, it is that unity that we bring people together and we are bringing people for reason and the reason is not for ourselves, not our families but for our community, country, and our people,” he said.
President Marcos hoped Philippines will be one of the nations that will lead peace efforts, adding that he intends to propose some actions to address conflicts in the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference this November.
“There will be leaders, there will be followers and we hope to be part of leading the ones that are leading effort for peace that we concentrate in the past…in my discussions with different leaders, we spoke very much of course of situation here in the Southeast Asia, in Asia in regard to the intensifying non-violent conflict but push and pull between China and United States over Taiwan, in fact, in the upcoming ASEAN conferences that are coming up in November, I intend to propose several actions ASEAN can take specific to different conflicts that we are seeing in our region…and if Philippines can play part, then that would certainly be a good thing,” he said.
He said country raised concern on the issue of Myanmar and Rohingya situation, adding it is time to put forward concrete proposals.
“I think we should continue to try and push our member neighbors to present that united front and to move that united front forward so that we can say that ASEAN as political geopolitical aggrupation, economic aggrupation, has certainly shown that it has function to do in normal scheme of geopolitics,” he added.
President Marcos also reiterated importance of strengthening partnerships and forging alliances across the world, saying “unity” remains one of the primary driving forces in pursuing economic recovery.
“Because in the uncertain world that we are facing, these partnerships will stabilize our transformation into post-pandemic new global economy…and it is an uncertain world that we are facing, it is an uncertain future, and that makes those partnerships all the more important…and again the concept of unity applies,” he said.
The President also encouraged Filipinos to help in strengthening Philippine economy in order to boost country’s position in the world.
“We want our people to dream, to develop their talents, to explore beauty of the country and of the world, and most especially, lead meaningful lives, and have in their heart hope for the future,” he said.
He also reiterated his administration’s priority goals are to secure food sufficiency and spur socio-economic growth.
“I’m proud to share that in the recent working recent visits that we have undertaken abroad, I was able to promote agricultural cooperation and encourage trade investment in key sectors,” the chief executive.
“The government is also focusing on its agenda of strengthening public-private partnerships and sustaining robust infrastructure initiatives of my predecessor with our very own flagship and I think it was described Build Better More Infrastructure Agenda…we need efficient infrastructure systems to serve as backbone of economy, so we enjoin not only government and industries, but also public to help in sustaining positive trajectory of our socio-economic growth” he concluded.
ISKUP! 