By Jelly F. Musico
President Rodrigo R. Duterte and members of his Cabinet wave during a photo session at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang on Monday (Oct. 3, 2016). (MNS photo)
MANILA (PNA) – Naturalized Filipino businessman Peter Wallace on Wednesday described as impressive the accomplishments of President Rodrigo Duterte in just 100 days of his administration.
”We’ve had almost 100 days now and we’ve had things done. I’m quiet amazed really how many things have been accomplished,” Wallace said in a press briefing in Malacañang.
He commended President Duterte for signing an executive order on the implementation of Freedom of Information (FOI) within the executive branch.
”But I think the one that struck us all immediately was, after what? Five presidents, 25 years, we didn’t have a Freedom of Information Act. Within six days, we had one. Just like that. He did the sensible thing. He passed an executive order,” the businessman said.
Wallace, founder of the Wallace Business Forum which helps chief executive officers (CEOs) understand the business environment in the Philippines, said he is confident Congress would pass the FOI bill that will cover all branches of government.
”I’ve no doubt, given the majority he has in both Houses, that (the) law will be passed,” he said.
He also praised the President for appointing Cabinet secretaries who are economic and business experts.
”His economic cluster is a very well-chosen cluster of people who are former businessmen and academics who know their job and know what has to be done. And he has said on numerous occasions, he will rely on them and their guidance as to where to go,” Wallace said.
He said the business community has essentially agreed with the 10-point socioeconomic agenda of President Duterte.
Wallace, whose Philippine citizenship was approved recently by Congress, called Duterte’s decision to continue the good policies of the previous administration a “remarkable change”.
”Each government has wanted to just to throw out the baby with the bathwater and start all over again. He said, ‘No, continuity is important. We’ll continue with those things that are good and we’ll speed them up,’” he said.
He also praised the Duterte government for promising to come up with 17 public-private partnership (PPP) projects before the end of the year.
Wallace said the target to increase the allotted budget for infrastructure spending from 2.5 percent to 5 percent is also commendable, saying the lack of infrastructure “is one of the greatest weaknesses today”.
He expressed hope that Congress would act immediately on the emergency powers that President Duterte has sought to “quickly and drastically” solve the traffic woes, particularly in Metro Manila.
The Filipino people should understand and accept President Duterte’s way of implementing the change he promised in the last May 9 elections, he said.
”He promised change and we wanted change so the people voted for him and he won overwhelmingly, promising that change. And now people are complaining that he’s changed, that he’s different. And yet that’s what we wanted,” Wallace said.
”I’ve been studying this man for quite some. I’ve known him for quite some time. And I know that the way he talks is not the way in which he thinks. This is a man who genuinely cares for this country and genuinely cares for its people,” he added.
President Duterte has been heavily criticized, not only in the Philippines but also abroad, particularly by the United Nations, United States and European Union for his war on drugs.
”And so he’s angry and he’s frustrated and he takes this out by swearing, which is not terribly abnormal in the society that he is mixed in. But it is difficult for particularly foreigners to understand,” Wallace said.
”What happens unfortunately is too often, what he says is taken literally rather than interpreting what he actually meant,” he added.