A biography for Francis Escuderohasn’t been written yet.
“Let's begin with one principle: it is better to talk, than to shoot.”
“What can I say about the peace efforts with our Muslim brothers and the NPA?”
“Tourism is an economic activity that leverages on the beauty that our Creator willed to us. It will also encourage development of the far reaches of our country. And it would complement efforts to protect the environment.”
“The former will guarantee a healthier life for future generations and upholds the principle of stewardship - that we are merely caretakers of the world which we presently inhabit - And that we must hand on to our children the land and waters in as good a condition as when we inherited it from our fathers.”
“These are our six priority areas. But I should add the Environment and Tourism.”
“All such shenanigans bring up the cost of doing business in this country.”
“We witness the President approve a contract with ZTE for $328 million which turned out to be overpriced by as much as 60%.”
“We sign a contract for a North Rail that cost $17 million per kilometer while the equivalent cost in Shanghai is $7M.”
“You bring in a container, you pay P200, 000 but only get a receipt for P60,000. Meaning that P140,000 goes to the bureaucrats and tong collectors.”
“Most business executives accept that bribes and grease money are costs of doing business in "soft "states.”
“Lastly, we must lower bureaucratic costs. This refers to "under the table" payments.”
“We should consider lowering our income tax rates to equal Hongkong or Vietnam or Thailand. One of the major reasons why many locators do not like the Philippines is because they would have to pay their executives more takeout to equalize take home pay. For example, Hongkong has a tax rate of 17% while our marginal income tax rate is 32%.”
“It is unconscionable that this government charges more royalty on the sale of our very own natural gas from Malampaya than it taxes imported coal and fuel. We pay P1.40 per kilowatt hour for electricity from generated from natural gas and only P.17 per KWH from coal. Does that make any sense to you?”
“Now we must move heaven and earth to lower energy costs. We must complete the sale of NAPOCOR generating plants and PPA contracts to the private sector to generate more competition. Thus far, only about 40% have been privatized.”
“We already spoke of lowering costs of food, labor, and transportation.”
“We must prioritize projects already partially built. Half a bridge is equivalent having no bridge at all. Then we have to focus on widening our major arteries. Especially where traffic jams occur daily. The wastage of people's time and fuel runs into billions not counting the inefficient use of trucks which deliver goods.”
“Aside from pump priming our economy, we would be bringing down the cost of transportation and opening up those areas of our country which have not been developed.”
“Fifth, we must fast track our infrastructure development.”
“We should try to make seamless the transport of agricultural products from Mindanao to the Visayas and NCR; from the Cordilleras and the Cagayan Valley to Manila. From farms to bagsakans or markets or seaports.”
“Increasing research and development budget to 5 percent of the agricultural production (GVA=P1.17trillion) would bring about better varieties and more efficient farming methods which would increase yields and give the farmer higher incomes even while farmgate prices go down to benefit the consumer.”