Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration still has “a great deal more to do” as he noted the need to fix decades-long of “neglect” in the agriculture sector and boost the economy amid persistent inflation threats.
During a chance interview on Thursday, Marcos said he agreed with one of the economists who gave him a grade of “incomplete.”
“I agree with him. We are not done. There are many, many things that we still need to do,” he said.
The president said that while the Philippines has been seeing “a lot of growth” on that front, his administration still needs “to undo 30, 35, almost 40 years of neglect when it comes to the agricultural sector.”
Marcos also said the government continues to improve the economic situation, especially with inflation figures still elevated.
Authorities reported earlier that the country’s inflation rate is now cooling down. Last month, the rate of price increase slowed to 6.1%. However, the figure remains way above the government’s target band of 2% to 4%.
“So I think we will be concluding the negotiations, the tripartite negotiations for the wage board, so meron tayong makikita na tama para makatulong naman tayo sa mga mas maliliit at nangangailangan (so we can provide assistance to those who are more in need),” Marcos said.
“So it’s never enough, whatever it is that we have managed to do, there is still a great deal more to do. We have to work smart, and we have to work well, and we have to be very conscious,” he added.
