House Speaker Martin Romualdez (File photo)
MANILA – Speaker Martin Romualdez on Thursday praised President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for achieving a “great job” in his first 100 days in office, setting the pace of leadership that will usher the country into economic recovery.
Romualdez said Marcos Jr. did a good job of crafting a national budget that is responsive to the country’s needs and ensuring a functioning government to ensure the implementation of policies he laid down in his eight-point economic agenda.
“I think the President has done great things in the government, particularly in his Cabinet. And his policies are very clear. On the part of the House of Representatives, we affirmed his fiscal framework (as contained in the proposed 2023 national budget) along with the Senate,” Romualdez said in a chance interview with reporters.
“We passed his budget on third reading so we’re well on our way. That’s the most important piece of legislation. That’s the national budget for 2023, so my assessment is that he’s done a great job,” Romualdez added.
The House of Representatives, under the leadership of Romualdez, passed in record time the PHP5.268 trillion proposed national budget for next year last week.
The proposed government spending program mirrors the needs of the country struggling to bounce back from the ill effects of the pandemic.
Romualdez also praised the President's recent state visits to Indonesia, Singapore, and the US, saying the trips netted billions of dollars in much-needed foreign investments in the country.
“He has also done a wonderful job in engaging our friends in the international community whereby foreign direct investments would be coming,” he said.
“And in fact, his recent trips from Indonesia, Singapore, and the United States – among our top trading partners, Singapore being the number one source of foreign direct investments we have seen so much enthusiasm and they welcome his presidency and his administration,” Romualdez said.
The President got investment pledges amounting to USD14.36 billion from his trips to Indonesia and Singapore, and over USD4 billion in his state visit to the US.
“So we’re looking for a swift recovery despite all of the pressures and the global economic (downturn), so we’re very excited for his administration,” Romualdez said. (PNA)
