PHILIPPINES— Presidential aspirant and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. said the country needs to be ready as the global economy starts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Marcos, the decision of the Australian government to lift the anti-dumping measure on Philippine pineapple canned products shows that the global economy is starting to recover.

The former lawmaker said this is a good development not only in the Philippine agriculture sector but also to other sectors as it proves that it can also strengthen its position in the global economy.

“Eto na nagsisimula nang magbukas ang global economy, mabuti in this particular case na sabayan natin dahil may produkto tayong mai-export sa kanila (Australia). Dapat ang positioning natin sa iba’t ibang sektor ng global economy ay ganyan din. Kapag nakapag-umpisa na sila, ready na dapat tayo na mag-trade, makipagnegosyo, makipagpartner, or mag-supply sa kanila (The global economy is starting to open, in this particular case it is better that we keep up with them since we have products that we can export to them (Australia). We have to position ourselves in various sectors of the global economy just like them. When they start to move, we must be ready to trade, do business, to partner, and supply them),” Marcos said.

“Kailangan pagplanuhan paano sasabayan ‘yung pagbukas ng mga ibang bansa. Kapag nagre-recover na ang ekonomiya ng ibang bansa kailangan nakahanda tayo para sabayan natin ‘yung kanilang pagbukas at kanilang pag-ahon. Kailangan makapagplano kung saan pupuwesto sa recovery ng global economy (We need to plan how we can go along with other countries. When the economies of other nations start to recover we must be ready to join them when they start to open and rise up. We need to plan our position in the recovery of the global economy).” The former Ilocos Norte governor said this kind of plan is included in his “Tawid COVID, Beyond COVID” program which provides measures and strategies on how Filipinos and the Philippine economy can improve in the midst of pandemic and beyond.

His plan involves strategies to address the problems of various sectors like agriculture, energy, telecommunication, infrastructure, education, health, among others.

“Una nating kailangan magawa ay tawirin itong COVID, dapat makalabas tayo at masabing nasa likod na natin ito. Hindi masabi na mawawala ‘yan pero dapat ma-manage na natin kung makita natin sa ibang bansa umabot na sila sa ganyan (First thing we need to do is move past COVID, we need to get out of it and leave it behind. It won’t disappear but we have to manage it just like what other countries have done),” Marcos said.

“Lahat iyan ay kailangan gawin para makasabay tayo sa development ng global economy (We need to to do all these things to keep up with the development of the global economy).” (Melvin Sarangay)