Sunday, November 12, 2006 Arroyo to Cabinet: Pay attention to keeping RP economy afloat
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked the Cabinet members to focus more on important matters like pushing for the programs and policies of her administration that would ensure the development and the resolution of the current problems of the country.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the business of politics should best be left to the politicians while members of the executive branch “concentrate on the projects that will push our country ahead rather than concentrate on premature politics.”
Bunye, who is also Presidential spokesman, shrugged off warnings of the opposition that Arroyo might suffer the same fate as US President George W. Bush, a Republican, after the Democrats dominated the congressional and senatorial elections in the US last week.
He also denied that Arroyo is the one engaging in politics or politicking by advocating Charter change as it is a part of the fundamental reforms that she is pushing for.
Bunye said Arroyo had always been transparent and open about it “and even after the (Supreme Court) decision (on the people’s initiative), the President said let’s keep the fire burning because I think it is something that we really need.”
He added that the President however is leaving the timing and the manner on how Charter change would be carried out to the agencies or institutions that have direct control “on what would happen next.”
“The President (at present) has expressed her preference for attending to the more urgent things and just right now the more urgent things according to her would be attending to the economy. Our economy is on a roll and President Arroyo is firmly focused on sustaining its momentum,” he said.
Bunye said Arroyo also wants the administration to continue to unswervingly advance the cause and welfare of the Filipinos and they are hoping that the country’s political leaders to “keep their aim high, push the nation forward and stay away from the mud pit of dirty politics.” (JMR/Sunnex)
