AMID the criticisms President Rodrigo Duterte is getting from his critics, business sectors in the country believed Tuesday that he has been able to make many accomplishments in his first 100 days.
George Barcelon, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told reporters that three months into the Duterte presidency the business community has felt improvements in the country already.
"We're beginning to see improvements along this line. We are very positive about what we're seeing," Barcelon said, noting that the President had been able to deliver his promises to address the needs of the Filipino people.
Donald Dee, chairman emeritus of the Employers' Confederation of the Philippines, said that unlike the past presidents, Duterte was "serious" in addressing the problems in the country.
"It was just a hundred days, I have seen presidents come and go. But the 100 days that we are experiencing today, you know, has borne more fruits," Dee said.
Barcelon said that the reduction on bureaucracy in some of government agencies was among the current administration's accomplishments.
For his part, Dee lauded the government for the ongoing construction of the two common stations that will interconnect Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7 with Light Rail Transit Line 1 and MRT Line 3.
"We have begun to see the positioning or the realization of the station – the central station for the MRTs and LRT. And this has been a problem that we have been facing for the past four years – even for the past seven years actually," Dee said.
"I remember, it was approved in the [Arroyo] administration. It was talked about for six years and precisely not to criticize the past administration, why this new administration is serious because the past six years, you know, a time of talking and very little less in implementation," he added.
As for the government's campaign against illicit drugs, Barcelon said it was "reasonable" for Duterte to seek a six months extension to be able to curb the drug sale.
While Barcelon acknowledged the President's accomplishments, he admitted that first three months in office is "really a very short time" to determine Duterte's success.
He also noted that even some business companies were not satisfied with what the Duterte administration had so far achieved.
"People talked about they haven’t seen any impact to this government… But I would tell my friends in the business community that we have to be patient. We have been patient before in previous administration. I think we owe it to this government that they’re only in for three months and we would like to give them more time to work out things," Barcelon said.
Barcelon likewise confessed that some had expressed concern over the President's remarks that made international headlines but said that he had told them that what was more important is that Duterte "loves his country and his people."
Dee said Duterte was merely provoked to make statements against his critics because of "his desire to see his objective done and done soonest."
"What he is saying is, you know, this is the eye of our problem. You take this cancer out," Dee said. "We know that and maybe the President is too transparent. But at least why are we so supportive? Because what you see is what you get."
Barcelon said the public should also help the government to move the country forward and achieve the changes it wants.
"I think it's a partnership, not just rely too much on the government but we, as private citizens, as businessmen, we have to do our part also," he said. (Sunnex)
