The all-time high consumer outlook at the onset of the new administration best illustrates the remarkably high level of public trust and confidence in President Duterte to deliver on his campaign commitments, particularly in restoring peace to our communities and sustaining high growth with benefits inclusive for all Filipinos, Department of Finance (DOF) spokesperson Paola Alvarez said over the weekend.
Citing the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)’s latest survey findings on the record consumer optimism from across all sectors, Alvarez said the relentless war against narco-traffickers and their cohorts in the government that Mr. Duterte has launched at the start of his presidency undoubtedly resonates with the public and proves that the President is right about his campaign to restore and maintain peace and order while keeping the domestic economy on its high-growth path.
“According to the BSP, the overall confidence index registered its highest reading for the third quarter of this year, and one of the reasons cited by our countrymen for their optimism was the improvement in the peace and order situation and the campaign against drugs. This shows that they approve of the President’s tough hand in dealing with the illicit drug problem,” Alvarez said.
She added: “President Duterte won by a landslide in the May elections because he promised—and the electorate believed—that ‘real change’ was coming, and that it would benefit all Filipinos and not just the traditional elites. He is fully committed to make growth inclusive and people believe that he would deliver on these commitments, as shown by the results of the latest BSP survey.”
Alvarez was referring to the quarterly survey conducted by the BSP showing an overall confidence index for 2016’s third quarter at its highest reading at 2.5 percent from -6.4 percent in the second quarter.
According to respondents, their optimism during the current quarter was due to the following reasons: 1. improvements in the peace and order situation, 2. availability of more jobs, 3. stable prices of commodities, 4. anticipated increase in salaries, 5. effective government policies, 6. assumption into office of the new administration as well as its pronounced campaign against drugs, 7. assistance from government such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4PS)
The survey indicates that the optimists outnumbered the pessimists for the first time since the BSP started the poll in 2007.
“Restoring public confidence in government and its national leadership—and not the political noise that certain groups have been whipping up in pursuit of their partisan agendas—is what has topped our people’s concerns, as shown by the reasons they have cited for this high level of optimism in the new administration,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said “the Duterte administration is fully committed to fulfill its electoral mandate, which is why it has drawn up its 10-point socioeconomic agenda focused on accelerating spending on infrastructure, human capital and social protection for the poorest of the poor, as a sure way to energize the economy, attack generational poverty, create enough quality jobs and thereby bring prosperity to all.
“The 10-point socioeconomic agenda anchored on inclusive growth will help create jobs and invigorate the economy in the countryside. A key element of this agenda is the implementation of sweeping tax reforms that aim to increase the take home pay of our workers, invigorate businesses, attract more long-term investments and bankroll the programs and projects that would translate into high inclusive growth that President Duterte has pledged to deliver on his watch,” Alvarez said.
“Given this high level of trust and confidence in the Duterte administration, the DOF is calling on our countrymen to join us in being partners for real change. We can make real change happen, if we work together and support our government,” she added.
