Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte has cited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his “above-par” performance in his first year in office.
Villafuerte commended the Marcos administration for having made “notable breakthroughs” in his goal to deliver jobs and better lives to Filipinos as well as attract more investments and put the economy back on its pre-pandemic path of high and inclusive growth.
“President Marcos has performed above par as Chief Executive, with his first year in office distinguished by notable breakthroughs in his overriding promise of more jobs and better lives for our people via an economy that is not only strong and resilient but also inclusive and sustainable,” Villafuerte, president of the National Unity Party (NUP), said.
“It has been a short learning curve for Mr. Marcos,” said Villafuerte, “as his Administration has managed to accomplish better-than-expected initial results in the President’s 2022 “Bangon
Bayan Muli” campaign pledge to uplift the lives of all Filipinos. The rosy indicators this early on the watch of Mr. Marcos underscores that while his government needs to do a lot more over the next five years to fully realize its social and economic transformation agenda, it is, for sure, on track toward achieving the President’s vision for a prosperous, inclusive and resilient Philippines.”
As the President marks this week his first 12 months at Malacañan Palace, his administration has “reported a higher employment rate; generated local and foreign direct investments (FDIs) and pushed business-friendlier reforms that create even more jobs and restored the economy to its pre-pandemic high-and-inclusive-growth trajectory; accelerated programs to attack poverty and provide economic relief to disadvantaged sectors such as the jobless, low-income families, farmers and the homeless; and shepherded our people to the digital world and the post-pandemic ‘new normal,’” said Villafuerte.
“Mr. Marcos’ pro-poor and pro-growth initiatives have won broad and deep support from our people and the business community,” he said, “as shown by the latest opinion polls pointing to the President’s high approval ratings along with public optimism that the country and our economy will be better in the year ahead.
Villafuerte said that as pointed out by Mr. Marcos himself in his recent response to his increased performance scores in the latest opinion polls, the people are aware of his Administration’s initial efforts to energize the economy and show to the world that the Philippines is back in business, so he can improve their lives and create jobs for them.
At the Vin d’honneur celebration at the Palace during the 125th anniversary of Philippine Independence, Villafuerte said President Marcos had stressed the national resolve to rise from the economic scarring caused by Covid-19 and his presidential duty “to keep the house in order and steer the country to a high-growth path whose effect will be felt by each and every ordinary Juan dela Cruz.”
Villafuerte noted that alongside being the country’s No. 1 salesman pitching the Philippines as an investors’ haven in his 12 trips abroad, the President had, in sync with his Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2022-2028, “pushed initiatives in his government and in the Congress to further enhance the business climate and last year relaxed the stringent anti-Covid health protocols to demonstrate to the world that the Philippines is back in business and on the road to a robust and sustainable growth post-pandemic.”