Press Release
April 10, 2016

MAKING GROWTH INCLUSIVE IS GREATEST CHALLENGE TO NEXT ADMIN, SAYS CHIZ

While the Philippines is being lauded for its strong economic performance in recent years, Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero said the greatest challenge for the next administration is to make that growth inclusive.

At the only vice-presidential debate sponsored by the Commission on Elections, Escudero acknowledged the government's economic achievements but pointed out that only the rich seem to benefit from the robust growth.

In 2015, the country's gross domestic product grew by an average of 5.8 percent, slightly lower than the 2014 full-year growth of 6.1 percent.

"Hindi inclusive ang growth. Hindi ito nararamdaman sa bawat sulok ng bansa. Naiiwan pa din ang mga magsasaka at mga mangingisda. Naiiwan ang pinakamahihirap sa ating mga kababayan. Itong pagyaman ng bansa, mas yumayaman po lamang yung dati nang mayaman," said Escudero, an independent candidate for vice president.

The senator made the remark in response to a question from CNN Asia-Pacific correspondent and editor Andrew Stevens during the CNN Philippines-Business Mirror Vice-Presidential Debate held at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila,

"Ang importante at ang hamon sa administrasyong ito at sa susunod, dapat maparamdam sa pinakamahihirap nating kababayan," he said.

Escudero cited as an example the case of irrigation for farmers, the poorest sector in society.

"Ang tanong ko ay simple: bakit tuwing gumagawa ng kalye ang gobyerno hindi naman pinagbabayad 'yung mayamang may kotse tuwing gagamit 'nun? Pero tuwing gagawa ang gobyerno ng irigasyon para sa mga magsasaka, pinagbabayad niya sa kada litro ng tubig na dadaanan," Escudero said.

Farmers pay an average irrigation service fee of P4,500 per hectare a year, which is equivalent to five cavans of palay. The National irrigation Administration collects irrigation fees for yields with 40 cavans and above, which amount to approximately P1,700 per 50 cavans during the wet season and P2,550 during the dry season.

"Kung sino pa 'yung mahirap, 'yun pa ang pinagbabayad. Kung sino ang mayaman, 'yun ang libre at walang bayad. Dapat baguhin 'yun sa susunod na administrasyon," Escudero said.

The Grace Poe-Escudero tandem is running under the banner of "Gobyernong may Puso," a government that promises to prioritize the needs of marginalized Filipinos.

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