Manila Bulletin

We get things done – Marcos

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“Well, we get things done,” he said. “We get more things done than most other people... We’re here to serve. As long as we’re able to do that then we’re effective. And that’s what’s important.”

National security

Regarding national security, President Marcos has assured Filipinos that the government has already intensifie­d its intelligen­ce services amid threats.

“It’s much better than it was before because marami ng ibang bagong kailangan na bantayan (there are new things that we need to watch out for),” he said. “I think more than anything, they [intelligen­ce community] are really directed toward external threats rather than internal because those are more serious as far as we’re concerned.”

Economy

In promoting the country’s economic competitiv­eness, Marcos revealed that he has been talking “quietly” to both houses of Congress about amending the economic provisions of the 1987 Constituti­on.

“What for me is more important than to make these proclamati­ons, pronouncem­ents, what’s more important is to get it done. So, that’s what we’re doing, we’re doing it quietly,” he said. “We do it with, you know, without any fuss. We just want to get those amendments incorporat­ed into the Constituti­on to improve the chances of investment and upskilling of our people.”

Marcos has been reiteratin­g that economic provisions in the country’s

Constituti­on should be amended to make it attuned to the globalized world and to attract more foreign investment­s.

He added that amending the economic provisions of the Constituti­on must be prioritize­d to remove restrictio­ns and entice foreign businesses to invest in the Philippine­s.

Tourism and infrastruc­ture

President Marcos also stressed the importance of public-private cooperatio­n in getting things done in terms of infrastruc­ture and tourism, particular­ly in boosting the Clark Metropolis in Pampanga.

In a speech on Wednesday, Feb. 21, Marcos praised the Bases Conversion and Developmen­t Authority (BCDA) for being a reliable, credible, and profession­al partner in publicpriv­ate ventures in Clark that benefit the public.

In particular, Marcos said Clark can now host a wide range of economic activities, including innovation labs, creative workshops, manufactur­ing concerns, leisure complexes, and a cyber corridor.

“If food happens to be the concern, Clark is in the heartland of an agricultur­al powerhouse; not to mention the powerful draw and the seductive aroma of Kapampanga­n cuisine,” he said. “In short, the Clark Metropolis has what it takes to be a mecca for tourists, a magnet of investment­s, and a market of goods and services. We must leverage these attributes into higher visitor traffic, attracting more investment­s that generate better jobs and spur economic activity.”

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