Bizmen call on Duterte to get good economic advisers

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will have to employ good economic advisers if ever he is elected president, Filipino businessmen said late Thursday, noting that business and economics are "not his strength."

"Let's put it this way, I think Duterte's very good. He will really eradicate crime and he's not scared to go beyond the law. As to whether he's good for business, I guess it's all we'll have to see,"  Joey A. Concepcion said at the sidelines of the GoNegosyo Talks: Meet the Presidentiables Series in Makati City.

"He's still not quite familiar yet with business and economics. I don't think that's his strength, but you can always get good people to help you," he added.

Concepcion, who serves as chairman and CEO of food and beverage company RFM Corp., said Duterte's strength is crime solving, and that is a good start.

"Of course, when you fight crime, you have a peaceful nation. Then all these other things happen," he said.

Concepcion's statement was echoed by R. Lapid's president Rey C. Lapid, who suggested that Duterte, if he becomes president, should hire an economic consultant.

"Duterte, I know, for me, he really needs a good consultant talking about business or economy. I know his focus and concentration is to control corruption, illegal drugs - doon siya alam ko na eksperto. Pero tungkol sa business, I think he still needs a consultant, or whoever, na adviser niya talking about economy," he said.

For his part, Ramon M. Lopez, GoNegosyo's executive director, said Duterte may be good for business in the country.

"I think okay din siya sa business dahil alam nating lahat 'yung priority nung ginagawa niya, even what he did in Davao so I think 'yan 'yung gusto niyang i-replicate," he said of the tough-talking mayor.

"May nabanggit siya sa training, support sa pagpapalaki at competitiveness ng mga negosyo," Lopez said.

Sought for comment, Duterte's team said they will be meeting to talk about his business and economy plans next week.

"We'll have a small economic-policy-focused caucus with him next week," Ernesto Peña, economics professor at the University of the Philippines, said in a text message.

Peña was part of the team that drafted the economic policy for Duterte's campaign.

Among those expected to join the caucus are Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. Director and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PSBP) Board Vice-Chairman Paul Dominguez, and Peter Wallace of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and founder of the Wallace Business Forum.

Duterte's economic plans include allowing foreign investors as much as 70 percent ownership in firms, leasing out lands by 40 years to foreign developers, and quelling crime, drugs, and corruption to foster a thriving business environment. —KBK, GMA News