Meet Your Candidates: Gilberto Teodoro presents platform for 2010

Defense Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro has outlined his road map for the country´s sustained economic growth anchored on lasting peace in southern Philippines once he is elected president.

Teodoro said lasting peace in Mindanao can be achieved through the formula anchored on Development; Capacity Building; Disarmament, Demobilization and Re-Integration.

"Any formula for peace in Mindanao," he cautioned, "would be doomed to fail if the state will continue to under-invest in its security programs."

Teodoro said that aside from investing in modern military equipment, the country needs additional soldiers to meet the security demands of an archipelagic country such as the Philippines.

In a talk he gave July 19 at the 10th RP-DEV forum in Makati hosted by former President Fidel Ramos, Teodoro said the country´s economic fundamentals remain resilient amidst the global financial crisis because of the government´s sound financial policies.

"Our strong banking system was able to withstand the adverse impact of the worldwide financial turmoil on the country," Teodoro noted.

Teodoro identified three sectors that have been badly affected by the crisis: exports, OFW remittances and foreign direct investments.

"While the rest of the world awaits the recovery of the global economy, the local economy must be strengthened," Teodoro said.

He offered four concrete steps to stimulate the economy and sustain the efforts of the administration: good government, infrastructure and technology, better education, health and overall quality of life, and order in society, order throughout the Philippines.

Good government, according to Teodoro, would mean restructuring the central government as well as local government units; improving the compensation of public servants; invigorating the judicial system, and strengthening the civil service.

"Harnessing our potentials in the maritime industry and tourism, among others, is critical to prop up our local economy coupled with the continuous infrastructure projects to beef up our agriculture and industrial sectors," he said.

Teodoro said a comprehensive and participative health care system should also be in place. He said he favors the establishment of a student loan program, through which students can barrow money from the government and pay through the GSIS or SSS once they find jobs after graduation.

Teodoro was among the six ´presidentiables´ that took part in the Forum, attended mostly by national leaders, members of the diplomatic corps and other sectors.