Manila, Philippines - The political opposition on Saturday challenged the Aquino administration to follow the lead of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in keeping high marks for her management of the country's economy. Leaders of the House minority bloc issued the challenge after economic managers of the current government acknowledged that President Arroyo did a good job in keeping the economy intact in her nine years at the helm of government. During the congressional budget hearing for the P1.64 trillion proposed budget, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Amando Tetangco Jr. conceded that Arroyo did well in maintaining the country's economy afloat despite the worldwide fiscal crisis. While other country's felt the impact of the world economic crisis, the
Philippines, under Arroyo's leadership, maintain positive marks. House Minority leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Purisima and Tetangco cited the country's strong economic fundamentals, proof of which is the 7.9 percent growth in the economy in the first six months of the year. "There is no lackluster economic performance as they (Aquino administration) have been alleging. The figures, data and statistics could not be denied," Lagman said following presentations made by Purisima and Tetangco and other economic managers before the committee. "In other words, the previous administration did not bungle the economy. We have good economic fundamentals which had been left behind by the previous administration and, hopefully this will not be reversed by the present administration," Lagman said.
