(Eagle News) — Members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet presented before the international media the economic development system of Philippine government, called “Dutertenomics,” during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital on Thursday.
The Cabinet members all made their pitch to promote the major infrastructure projects under the program “Build, Build, Build” that they said would create more jobs and more business opportunities for the Philippines.
“Our milestones are ambitious. We will spend five to seven percent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year on infrastructure,” Secretary Martin Andanar, Presidential Communications Operations Office head, said.
Under “Dutertenomics,” the country will invest US$160 billion in the country’s physical infrastructure program. It also includes a 6-year development plan that will allow Filipinos to achieve a high middle income status by the time the President leaves office.
“We aim to eliminate poverty and rank among the thirty largest economies in the world,” Andanar said.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar assured the international community that the Philippines will put emphasis on disaster resiliency.
He noted that infrastructure projects would be developed with this critical element in mind.
Incoming Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, for his part, made a pitch for President Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“The campaign against illegal drugs is the campaign for the human rights of 105 million Filipino people,” he said.
(with reports from Presidential Communications office)
