PALAYAN CITY – A staunch ally of President Aquino urged the government on Friday to redirect much of its time from being consumed to investigation against former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her family and former officials, to pro-active measures that will answer the recurring economic and social problems.
“Makasuhan man si FG (former first Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo) ‘yun umuuwi bang OFW (overseas Filipino worker) galing sa Libya o kung saan man, magkakatrabaho dito?,”
Sen. Francis Joseph Escudero, a political ally of Aquino, told the media after addressing local folk for Nueva Ecija’s 115th Unang Sigaw (First Cry) celebration here.
He said the government has a lot of other pressing matters to attend to.
This was the reason, he said, why he sometimes does not attend Senate investigations. “Makulong man kalahati ng gabinete ni Pangulong Arroyo, ‘yung presyo ba ng bilihin at ng gasolina, bababa?” he added.
He suggested that while he has nothing against Senate investigations, these should not eat up the government’s time and efforts.
“Dapat kasabay ng pagpapanagot sa kanila ay ang pagtutok sa mga problemang kinakaharap natin,” Escudero said.
On his assessment, the government is now spending only some 20 percent of government’s time in addressing problems concerning economy, employment, surging prices of basic commodities, salary and compensation.
“Naniniwala ako na siguro dapat 80 to 90 percent of the time, harapin natin ‘yung mga kasalakuyang problema at yung darating pang problema, looking forward ika nga…moving forward ika nga” he said.
“Huwag naman ‘yung 80 to 90 perecent puro pagbabalik-tanaw, pagpapanagot at pag-iimbestiga at halos 20 porsyento na lamang ang ginugugol sa mga kasalakuyang problema,” he added.
Meanwhile, the senator lauded Aquino’s policy on project planning wherein the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is now the one tasked to conduct feasibility studies.
He said this is the reverse of the old practice where private contractors or proponents make feasibility studies that turn to fit their own interest before public benefits.
