Partido Federal ng Pilipinas presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has vowed to implement his blueprint for national development, which include economic programs that would accelerate the industrialization of crucial sectors in the country to create more jobs for Filipinos when he wins in the upcoming 2022 polls.
In an interview with local radio station DZRJ, Marcos Jr. stressed that the next administration should spur economic development by pursuing an industrialization program similar to what was done by his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, in the 70s.
“The next administration will have to revive the industrialization drive that was started in the 70s. We have to continue that. If you look at the history of our wealthy neighbors, they became economically strong because of trade,” Marcos said. According to 2021 data, the agr culture sector accounted for 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), while the industrial and services sectors accounted or 30.8 percent and 60 percent, respectively. The manufacturing industry also employs over 3.2 million individuals based on 2016 data from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The UniTeam presidential bet also underscored the importance of expanding our selection of export products to increase trade with other countries.
“If the manufacturing sector has shrunk then we really have to go back and redesign that part of our economy for the simple reason that if we want to be involved in trade, then we have to have something to trade with,” he said.
Marcos Jr. also said that the country’s greatest asset is its people.
Responding to the concluding question during “The Deep Probe: The SMNI Presidential candidates Interview,” Marcos said he is an optimist, in an answer to Prof. Clarita Carlos’ question.
“I’m essentially an optimist. And the reason why I’m an optimist, especially when we talk about the country, I am optimistic because our biggest asset is the Filipino people. I try to be very objective about. I have traveled around the world I have not met a better people than the Filipinos in every possible way, every possible way,” Marcos said.
On the question to what extent is he a risk taker, he said that “when it comes to national issues, I tend to be a conservative only because a mistake would cost so much suffering for so many people.”
“In other words, you have to be very careful with the decisions you make and it’s not something that you do off hand,” he said.
Marcos stressed that his conservatism lies in his belief that his plans for the country should work out right.
Marcos, declaring that there were “many Machiavellians in his life,” admitted that he is a Machiavellian and that “he has to be aware of everything that is going to help whatever it is that you are hoping to achieve.”
Nicolo Machiavelli is an Italian Renaissance political philosopher and statesman who is famous for his work The Prince that brought forth the dictum “The end justify the means,” which has become synonymous with political cynicism.