Duterte man pacifies business: Gina Lopez is not the Cabinet

Assuaging fears of a blanket anti-business stance from the incoming administration, incoming National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Director General Ernesto M. Pernia said “a single cabinet member doesn’t make a cabinet.”

Pernia was reacting to the comments made by Manuel V. Pangilinan, chair of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), who said the country needed guidance from its government in diversifying beyond electronics its export portfolio.

But Pernia alluded Pangilinan’s comments to the recent appointment of anti-mining advocate Gina Lopez as chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The news had sent share prices of mining and oil stocks plunging on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“For the export thing, I’m sure you are referring to mineral exports. It’s a sensitive matter. I’ve been seeing the (effect on) stocks in mining and oil. Let me tell you that, well, a single cabinet member doesn’t make a cabinet… Certainly, we’re going to have to agree on what policies, or what exports, or what areas will be needing emphasis,” Pernia said.  Pangilinan’s statements came after Pernia discussed on Thursday the economic strategy of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte during a special joint meeting hosted by the Makati Business Club, US-Philippine Society and the Philippines-US Business Council.

During a small group discussion with Duterte and Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, Pernia said he suggested splitting the DENR and strengthening the natural resources side to include the “blue economy.” He said the blue economy, or the development of marine resources and ecosystems, “is a big thing.” He clarified it was still an idea that needed further discussing.

He said Dominguez, a Mindanao-based businessman, believes the private sector should be a major player in the economy. He also said Dominguez understood that the government was just an enabler and a provider of conducive environment for businesses.

Pernia made the same remark when Makati Business Club chair Ramon del Rosario Jr. asked about the incoming administration’s position on agrarian reform.

Incoming Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano reportedly said he would be pursuing the said reforms with minimum exemptions.

“We are aware of the orientation of Rafael Mariano but he’s just one of the many in cabinet. There are many of us who are not too excited about agrarian reform program including myself. We are going to temper his enthusiasm about what he plans to do with the agrarian reform,” Pernia said. Mariano was once a representative of the militant Bayan Muna Party-list.

The remarks of Pernia were welcomed by del Rosario, who noted these implied “there will be discussions and debate.”

“Hopefully, good sense will prevail. Some things are just not realistic to implement abruptly even if the direction has been set. It’s good to be prudent to make sure everyone understands the impact of decisions,” Del Rosario added.