Meet the presidentiables: Leni Robredo

Maria Leonor “Leni” Gerona Robredo is the 14th vice president of the Philippines. She is currently seeking higher office as an independent candidate.

Through 5 1/2 years, VP Leni sought to bring her office closer to the people, transforming it into an advocacy-heavy organization, no doubt inspired by her years of experience as an alternative lawyer.

VP Leni’s flagship anti-poverty program, Angat Buhay, started by addressing needs in six advocacy areas: food security and nutrition, women empowerment, education, health care, rural development, and housing, and has since grown to disaster response and empowerment of key sectors.

Believing in the power of collaboration and of faith in the people, VP Leni vows to keep on working to help her fellow Filipinos, especially those in the fringes of our society, whom she identifies herself with more.

The Financial Executives of the Philippines (FINEX), the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), Cignal TV and The Manila Times recently hosted Part 2 of the Presidentiables Forum, still on the theme “Economic Reforms in the New Frontier.”

Sen. Ping Lacson was the first to accept our invitation and, as I mentioned in a previous column, acquitted himself very well during the open forum.

Henry Lim Bon Liong.

The event was also co-sponsored by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), the Investment House Association of the Philippines, Judicial Reform Initiative (JRI), the Makati Business Club (MBC), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), SharePHIL, Philippine Women’s Economic Network, Grab PH, United Auctioneers Inc., and W Group Inc. It was broadcasted and streamed live simulcast on One PH, One News, and Radyo Singko 92.3 News FM.

The welcome remarks were given by Michael Guarin, 2022 FINEX president, while the closing remarks were given by Henry Lim Bon Liong, FFCCCII president.

The master of ceremonies was Riza Mantaring, chairperson of the FINEX National Affairs Committee, MAP past president, and MBC trustee and treasurer. I served as the moderator.

A lawyer-economist, VP Leni gave a clear presentation of her plans moving forward. I mentioned that I was sure members of the business community were very much appreciative to hear that she will play a part as far as policymaking is concerned, that she will listen to them, and that under her administration, it will be a “level playing field” where everybody will be allowed to compete, and the rule of law will prevail. That was music to the ears of many who intend to invest more in this country.

On the question of amending the Constitution to open up to foreign investments, VP Leni said that she believed that the most urgent among these concerns can already be addressed without going through the tedious, contentious process of amending the Constitution, and that one such way was through a more responsive Public Service Act, which opens up the Philippine economy to larger-scale investments and holds the potential of unlocking key industries and expanding opportunities for our people.

About infrastructure, VP Leni said that it will most definitely remain a priority, but that we must ensure that we are building in a strategic, impactful manner and not just building for the sake of saying we’re building. She mentioned that to this end, she will focus our infrastructure policy on three priority areas: the first one on water resources management, the second one on public transport and rural development, and the third one on reconstruction of public infrastructure and housing projects in calamity-stricken areas.

Riza Mantaring.

VP Leni also said that we should push for more private-public partnerships (PPP) because we have seen the amount of good that collaboration with the private sector can produce if done right.

When I asked her about mining, she said that she was for responsible mining, but that we must ensure, first and foremost, that the environment would be protected and that the benefits we gain from mining activities go back to local communities and contribute to holistic national development.

VP Leni also said that women empowerment was one of the six key priority areas of her Angat Buhay program and that what they have been doing is really training women — to become entrepreneurs, and to earn their keep while taking care of their families. She mentioned that they have an ongoing sustainable livelihood and development program and that they conduct workshops for aspiring women entrepreneurs.

“Government should take the lead in putting up mechanisms so that those in the margins are really given the opportunity to succeed,” she said. “And when I say given the opportunity to succeed, it’s a whole range of many things including education, including focusing on local industries where we have a competitive advantage, including providing for social protection for them.” She said that while she is open to taxing the rich more, she doesn’t think that it should be the only solution.

I asked about energy security, and she said that it is very, very clear that the priority now should be moving away from fossil fuel dependence towards a shift to renewable technology. She said that we should also ensure that energy costs do not hamper our economic trajectory. In the same breath, on renewables, she said that we have committed to be carbon-neutral by 2050, but the first step, of course, is to accelerate this because we don’t have a very clear transition plan yet. She also said that we need to immediately reorient this into a roadmap to increase our levels of energy self-sufficiency with clear milestones.

On the West Philippine Sea, VP Leni had this to say: “Ang atin ay atin (What is ours is ours). Our foreign policy will always put the interests and our people first. We will have to address challenges always with courage and honor, and we should be unrestrained by fear and be free from the influence of any political power.”

VP Leni believes that the role of government is to encourage, to make sure that all the processes are fair and transparent. Inclusivity should always be the driving force for real growth, she said, and that she will always ensure that the voice of people would always be heard as she works — we all work — for the common good.

That was a rather positive note for the forum to end on.