Steve Forbes to PNoy: We need you in Washington

Seemingly impressed by what President Benigno Aquino III’s administration has achieved on the economic front, US businessman and publisher Steve Forbes told the chief executive he is needed in Washington.

In a sit-down interview during the Forbes Global CEO Conference, the Forbes Media chairman asked Aquino about his administration’s efforts to ensure currency stability.

“There has been that conscious effort to insulate ourselves, to a large degree, from things that are beyond our control and kind of extremely difficult to predict,” said Aquino.

Aquino added that his government has been prudent in borrowing, saying he himself is “very conservative in terms of handling the people’s funds.”

“That's why we need you in Washington,” Forbes said. “The amazing thing is, by the way, that the debt of the Philippines, of the Filipino government as a proportion of GDP has come down quite dramatically in recent years,” the businessman added.

Forbes himself entered the Republican party presidential primaries in 1996 and 2000, but eventually dropped out.

Aquino said his administration’s biggest achievement is Filipinos' renewed optimism, citing as an example the reduction of the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Forbes replied, “Believing in the future is something the rest of the world needs, which is why we hope after you leave office you will come to the US and give us some of that belief in the future.”

The dialogue between the two was the concluding session of the conference held in Solaire Resort, Parañaque City. — BM, GMA News