Economic development to be focus of Duterte's SONA – Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte's administration will continue working on developing the economy and future projects will be announced during the president's State of the Nation Address on Monday, said a Philippine official.

It is a tradition in the Philippines for the president to deliver a state of the nation addressing subjects such as work achievements and development planning, something that the nation urgently needs to hear right now amidst the tension which is current engulfing the country.

National security has been a worrying issue for the country since the Marawi standoff which rocked the nation on May 23.

Martin Andanar, Secretary for the Presidential Communication Operation Office, said that security is the biggest challenge that Duterte's government faces. But the president decided to extend the martial law, in a bid to end the crisis and rebuild Marawi as soon as possible.

"The request for the extension of martial law is precisely the reason why the president is asking for it. He wants a stable environment where he can rebuild Marawi. It is the environment that we need also to invite different investors to invest in Mindanao," said Andanar.

He added that the source of terrorism and rebel groups were the reasons the economy was suffering in Mindanao. Therefore, Duterte would reveal the 2018 budget plan in his address, promising that the government would continue to focus on economic development and the alleviation of poverty in the next five years.

"The promise was to make the economy an inclusive economy, which means money will come in the Philippines, not just as hard money and the stock exchange, but really money that is invested in infrastructure projects. Money that will produce jobs. Money that is actually tangible that people can touch, people can hold. That is what we mean by inclusive economy and that will happen in the next five years," said Andanar.

He added that the 2018 budget was the first time the government would give a complete plan focusing on development projects.

"By next year, the railway system will begin. The construction of Mindanao railway, the railway from Tutuban, all the way to the Bicol, all the way to Clark. It will start the subway project. And these are big ticket infrastructure projects," elaborated the secretary.

"Call the president the harbinger of change in the country and you will see this in the second State of the Nation Address. That is very important for our people to watch this, to learn, to listen carefully. And it is very important also for our diplomatic core and for the rest of the foreign direct investors to focus and listen to, because from the second State of the Nation Address, they will see inspiration and they will draw from it, and I am certain that from this, they will be more inspired or encouraged to invest in our country," said Andanar. — Reuters