President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appears willing to accept private sector help in nurturing the economy to achieve higher growth, a move businessmen should respond to positively and act on swiftly, said Metro Pacific Investment’s chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.
Pangilinan told Context.ph in an exclusive interview that Marcos Jr. proved a “pleasant surprise” in his dealings with the business sector, some of whom strongly and openly supported another candidate during the 2022 presidential race.
“It’s a good start and I think business should respond to the calls he’s (Marcos) made for certain areas like agriculture, for example,” he said.
On its own, the Metro Pacific has made significant investments in several agricultural ventures and is looking to help the country regain its stature as top coconut exporter.
“It is a great sea change from where it was compared to the previous two administrations. The president is very engaging. He has a quick grasp of the issues. He is intellectually curious and asks relevant questions.”
Metro Pacific Investment’s chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan
Pangilinan didn’t comment on Marcos Jr.’s handling of the agriculture sector but was quick to call as unfair to lay the blame on President Marcos for the shortage in electricity supply in certain areas.
“To be fair to President Marcos, he is the heir to a lot of years of neglect in the power sector. Conventional plants can’t be built in a year; it takes a while,” he added.
