THE Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on Thursday urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize the economy over politics when he makes his annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
“We... hope that this year’s SONA marks a pivot from politics to economic execution,” MAP President Donald Lim said in a statement that also expressed support for identified priorities such as the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, Party-List System Reform Act, Citizen Access and Disclosures for National Accountability Act, and the Independent People’s Commission Act.“But beyond these reforms, what we want to hear is a clear economic agenda that creates jobs, attracts investments, improves food security, lowers the cost of doing business and restores confidence,” he added.“Building economic resilience is critical to our human security in the face of mounting geopolitical challenges and approaching climate change risks.”Marcos’ criticism of flood control project anomalies in last year’s SONA led to a massive corruption scandal that caused a shakeup in Congress, the dismissal of Public Works department officials and a marked slowdown in government spending that drastically slowed economic growth.He is expected to again dwell on the issue on Monday and could also touch on the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, a former ally who has become a fierce critic.The MAP said that the fight against corruption remained important but should not affect development initiatives. Delayed government spending, it added, has led to lost jobs, shelved investments and slower growth.“The country is tired of politics,” Lim said.“We must fight corruption decisively, but we should not let corruption become a brake on economic growth,” he added.“It is time to bring the conversation back to creating jobs, attracting investments, stabilizing food prices and improving the daily lives of our people.”
