As the incoming leader is set to inherit an economy rising out of pandemic, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III disclosed that they had met with some presidential candidates and discussed current economic issues.
Without naming names, Dominguez said on Tuesday, April 5, that a number of Presidential aspirants have requested the Department of Finance (DOF) for a briefing on the state of the Philippine economy.
“Basically, what’s the way forward, where are we at right now. Those were the issues,” Dominguez told reporters when asked about the issues the DOF discussed with the presidential candidates.
To recall, Dominguez signified in February his willingness to sit down with all the presidential candidates to discuss how to manage the mounting government debt, which the next presidency will inherit from the Duterte administration.
When pressed to elaborate about the identities of the candidates he had briefed, Dominguez declined, saying the Presidential aspirants “didn't announce it. So I have to respect them.”
There are 10 candidates vying for President for the 2022 polls. They are former Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, labor leader Leody de Guzman, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso and former defense chief Norberto Gonzales. Other presidential candidates are Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Ping Lacson, Faisal Mangondato, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Jose Montemayor Jr., and Senator Manny Pacquiao.