MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is calling on political leaders to establish a unified economic agenda that will endure beyond the 2028 elections, emphasizing the need for a shared national direction despite political divisions.
During a social media livestream on Friday, November 13, Cayetano proposed holding cross-party discussions immediately after the Philippines hosts the ASEAN Summit to forge a national consensus on critical economic goals.
He stressed that political groups should commit to these targets regardless of party lines to genuinely address poverty and economic hardship.
“Hindi ba pwedeng sabihing may five-point or three-point or seven-point economic agenda tayo, and regardless kung ano ang political [affiliation] natin, we’ll do this? Because everyone is claiming in government that this is for the people and most of our people are poor,” Cayetano said.
“Kailangan ng national consensus. Hindi pwedeng gantihan na lang sa politika at sabihin nating, ‘Hindi bale na, sa 2028 mas marami tayo,’” he added.
Drawing on his background as a former Department of Foreign Affairs secretary, Cayetano noted that politicians must learn to manage differences for the nation’s welfare, comparing political cooperation to international diplomacy.
“In governance, especially when you’re talking about the whole nation and the economy, it’s [all about] managing your differences,” he stated.
“[It’s the] same thing sa politika. Magkakagalit man ang mga politiko natin, ang mga partido, the reality is, one team lang po tayo sa ating bansa,” he continued.
The senator outlined five core pillars for the proposed long-term framework: prices, employment, income, peace and order, and health. He suggested organizing a broad convention rather than limiting talks to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to demonstrate stability to foreign investors.
“What’s the starting point? Usap. There can be a convention, not just a LEDAC. Then baka pwede maglatag ng four-point, five-point, seven-point economic program to show the rest of the world na [kahit] medyo magulo dito, we mean business,” Cayetano explained.
Urging leaders to look past domestic squabbles, Cayetano concluded that true national unity must start with a shift in mindset among politicians themselves.
“Grabe potential natin. Ang problema nga, we can’t get our acts together. So rather than be negative, positive vibes tayo during the ASEAN [week] and let’s tell each other na, ‘Kaya natin ‘to,’” he emphasized.
“This should be a period of unity. We have to change the way we think and it has to start with us,” he added.