PH to reap economic benefits due to lofty Rody ratings – solon

House Appropriations Committee Chairman and Davao City 1st district Rep. Karlo Nograles said the Philippines is bound to receive more significant economic deals after a recent survey showed that President Duterte is the most trusted Philippine president in the last 20 years.

“Investor confidence in the Philippines just went through the roof. And with the ASEAN Summit right around the corner, we can expect the country to receive a tidal wave of foreign investments and financial packages that otherwise won’t be offered to us with a different president,” said Nograles.

A September, 2017 survey by Pulse Asia showed that Duterte got an 80 percent trust and approval rating.

Based on the results of the third quarter survey, the 72-yearold Duterte commands more trust and satisfaction among Filipinos than his predecessors Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Benigno C. Aquino III.

According to Pulse Asia, Duterte is the most trusted president upon assuming office after recording a maiden trust rating of 91 percent in July, 2016.

He is the also the only Philippine president in the last 20 years to break the 80 percent barrier as far as approval ratings are concerned.

He garnered 86 percent in that department in September 2016.

“President Duterte’s lofty ratings equate to an image of him not being a corrupt leader. And if there’s one big worry among foreign investors and loaning institutions, it’s the possibility that the money they fork out would get wasted due to corruption. They need not fear this under the current administration,” added Nograles, who like Duterte is part of PDP-Laban.

Nograles credited Duterte’s stratospheric trust and approval ratings to his no-nonsense antiillegal drug and anti-corruption campaigns, the likes of which have never been seen before in the Philippine setting.

“It’s the President’s sincerity and resolve to solve these long standing ills that have truly resonated with the Filipinos. They feel that Duterte is the best man for job and it continues to be reflected in the survey,” he said.

Countries such as China and Japan have already taken notice.

China, which Duterte has visited twice in his young term, has pledged $24 billion in loans and grants, mostly for infrastructure projects under the flagship Build, Build, Build program.

In his working visit to Japan late last month, Duterte inked business deals amounting to $6 billion from some 18 companies.