Government to focus on good governance, fighting poverty in next 15 months

President Benigno Aquino III at the Philippines Investment Forum, 24 March 2015 (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — The administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III will focus on pushing good governance, creating jobs and fighting poverty in the next 15 months, a Palace official has said.

“In the next 15 months, the administration will intensify efforts at job creation while maintaining fiscal discipline in order to rein in inflation. Good governance is imperative in achieving inclusive growth,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a statement on Tuesday.

“The government continues to implement measures to stabilize prices of commodities. Various programs have been put in place to bring about poverty reduction. This includes breaking intergenerational poverty through the conditional cash transfer program, skills development for enhanced employability, and improving the business climate in the country through good governance,” he added.

Coloma issued the statement following the March 1-7 Pulse Asia survey that found the administration’s performance ratings “do not significantly differ” from the results of a similar survey conducted in November 2014.

The Aquino administration also got a positive 31 net approval rating in responding to the needs of those affected by calamities.

Coloma said the administration scored positive net approval ratings in eight other urgent national concerns: stopping the destruction and abuse of the environment; defending the country’s territorial integrity against foreigners; fighting criminality; enforcing the law; increasing peace in the country; fighting graft and corruption in the government; creating more jobs; and controlling fast population growth.