'Romualdez can

boost Duterte'j
economic Plans'
By MaricelV. Cruz
A PRO-ADMINISTRATION lawmak- '

er on TuesdaY welcomed the entry of

l-e\{e Representative-elect Martin Ro-
mualdez in the Speakership race lor the
18th Congress, saying the House needs
a leader who will push for the passage
of President Rodrigo Dutefie's priority
eoonomic measures
--In"orat.ntu,iu.
Romualdez's deci- vol xxx t. No.104. 3 sEcfloNs i6 pAoEs. p18. wEDNEsoAy MAy 29, . www.manilastandard.net : mrt.daydesk@gmail.com
sion lo join the Speakership derbl is WEDNEsDAY MAY Zg,ZOP
I
a *elcome dereloPmenl as lar as the
u', eaono*ii managers and busi-
"nrrnt
ness ieaders are concemed. Representa-
tive Romualdez as Speaker is good for
the economv said Albay Rep Joey Sal-
ceda, senioivice chairman ofthe House
Comminee on WaYs and Veans'
" ffi""J' t"]a n"mualdez's knowl-
edge and vast experience in tle financial
Nert Page

'Romualdez...
Frcm Al
markets and in economics would help ex-
pedite the passing of Duterte\ economic-
. reform agenda.
"Rornualdea.is.'.not onh q: belkps,,and an
economisl He is also a ta&}q }lto talows the
tq|qlfllive measurs ne€ded to prop€l the coun-
try's ecortomy to greater heighb, Salceda said.
I l
Romualdez holdA a Bachelor ol Arts de-
gree in Governmeirt from the Ivy League
school, in Comell Universiry and a Cartifi-
cate of Special Studies in Adminishation
and Management ftom Harvard UniveBity.
He also earned his Bachelor oflaws degree
from the University olthe Philippines.
rAll the candidates for Speaker in the
18th Congress are my Aiends. They are all
wonhy ofthe position, but I am sorry to say
this. Maain Romualdez is a cut above the
rcst:Ee is p,rinw interpares, Salceda said.
"He knows his economics and he knows
his politics. Definitely, he can unite the
House ofRepresentatives ard move us into
passing the vital economic measures needed
to sustain the country's economic growth."
According to the 2018 estimate ofthe In-
ternational Monetary Fund, the Philippine
economy is the world's 28th laryest by gross
domestic product. Under the watch of Presi-
dent Duterte, the country recorded a GDP
ofP956 billion in 2018.
Salceda said economic managers and
fiscal experts sharcd the opinion that if the
Philippines could maintain its gojected GDP
Grorth of 6.5 percent in the next decade, the
tiger cub economy might well e part ofthe
trillion-dollar club, which currendy included
United States, Chiga, India, Japan, Germany,
Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, the Unitcd King-
dom, France, Mexico, Italy, lurkey, Korea,
Spain, Saudi Arabia and Canada.

\\ WdT PA?€ "