Pres. Aquino: High PHL Economic Growth Benefits Filipinos, Creates Jobs

President Benigno S. Aquino III said the country’s robust economy has benefited many Filipinos as this continues to attract more investments imperative for jobs creation.

Thus stressed President Aquino as he vowed his administration would focus more on accelerating economic growth during the remaining year of his term.

He noted the country’s record high levels of average gross domestic product (GDP) of 6.3 percent in 2010 to 2013, the highest ever growth achieved by Philippines in 40 years. The economy grew 6.1 percent in 2014.

“Ngayon, kung makuha natin ‘yung 7 to 8 percent growth this year, tatalunin natin ‘yung 60 years na growth na naitala ng bansa. So ito ang pinakamabilis na pag-unlad,” the President said in a radio interview on Wednesday.

The Chief Executive added his administration’s economic policies have borne fruits, citing the 1.04 million jobs created from last year as indicated by the January 2015 Labor Force Survey.

“Ang dami nga nating ginagawa para palakihin ang ekonomiya…Yung growth na nararanasan natin ngayon nagmumula sa infrastructure spending natin, nandoon na rin ‘yung manufacturing na bumabalik, ‘yung growth sa agriculture,” he said.

The President said government efforts to boost the economy are attracting more investments into the country.

President Aquino said the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) has already given assistance to 4.4 million poor families and households from just 800,000 beneficiaries in 2010.

The 4Ps program is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor households, primarily those with children in grade schools.

It provides cash grants to partner-beneficiaries who comply with the conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for checkups and attending the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).

President Aquino said the government has expanded the coverage of 4Ps program to include families and households with children in high schools.

“Napa-graduate natin ‘yung first batch over 300,000, tapos ang dami dito mga graduate na may honors—salutatorian, valedictorian,” he said.

The President further said it has also expanded the coverage of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) from 63 percent to 87 percent of the population.

“Nilakihan pa ‘yung dami ng tao at saka ‘yung dami ‘nung saklaw ng mga karamdaman, pati ‘yung mga catastrophic illnesses na tinatawag,” he said.

Further, President Aquino identified other priorities of his administration during the remaining year of his term which are in jobs creation, agriculture, tourism and peace and order.

“So lahat itong mga infrastructure na ginagastusan natin, kunyari mga airports. Nag-umpisa tayo three million na tourists, over five million na yata tayo last year kung hindi ako nagkakamali. Ang target natin next year 10 million na foreign (tourists),” he added. (PNA) FFC/LDV