PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has lauded the election of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as House speaker, recognizing that the former president, an economist, could help the government address the country’s economic concerns.
“I hope that there’ll be changes, because there’s a new speaker. And it’s a good thing because Gloria is an economist,” Duterte said in a speech in Zamboanga Sibugay on Thursday night.
Arroyo was elected House speaker on Monday by 184 House members, becoming the 21st leader of the chamber and the first woman to hold the post.
Duterte revealed that Arroyo called him last week and urged him to do something about inflation.
“She (Arroyo) was the one who called me about two weeks ago to do something about the inflation,” he said.
In June, inflation hit 5.2 percent, the highest in more than five years.
To help lower rice prices and inflation, the President said he would push for the passage of the rice tariffication bill.
The measure, which aims to replace quantitative restrictions on rice imports with a tariff system, was certified as urgent by Duterte during his State of the Nation Address.
“I’m pushing for tarrification to address the problem with expensive rice. Now any businessman can import rice so that there will no longer be any trouble,” he said.
Duterte said there was a need to generate more job opportunities for Filipinos amid the country’s robust economic growth.
While there is brisk employment in Metro Manila, there is an apparent shortage of jobs in the provinces, he said.
“The gross domestic product, right now, we’re doing well. Growth rate is hitting something like 6.7. That’s very good. We’re almost equal with China,” Duterte said.
“What’s difficult is the lack of job opportunities. In Manila, employment is brisk because there are plenty of projects. But here in the provinces there are none,” he added.