The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry gives President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a positive 8 out of 10 rating for bringing back business confidence even amid pressing economic challenges faced by the country during his so-called "honeymoon" period.

During a press conference on Wednesday, PCCI president George Barcelon said the business group recognizes that the President has put a lot of effort in reviving the economy despite difficult times.

"The confidence of the business sector is probably 8 out of 10 as the administration was able to handle some pressing issues well," he said, pertaining to the face-to-face that will go full swing in November and the challenges hounding the agricultural sector.

"These are all a work in progress. Agriculture is the one sector that needs to be addressed, which the National Economic and Development Authority should be quite focused. The President has taken the bull by the horn because it is one of the most challenging sectors in the country," he said.

In terms of appointing an agriculture secretary instead of Marcos Jr. at the helm of the Department of Agriculture, Barcelon said he is leaving that up to the President.

Controversy
The Marcos administration was recently hit by controversy over the importation of sugar when the price of the said commodity escalated in recent months, along with the still fluctuating prices of petroleum products, unstable inflation, and peso devaluation, apart from the persisting pandemic.

"We cannot gauge now what has been achieved. A hundred days is too short but we're looking at a strong economic team, and the President giving his marching order to generate more economic activities and job opportunities for Filipinos. gauge is that the economic team is there and there is a marching order from the President to have more economic activities and job opportunities for Filipinos," he said.

Agriculture is the one sector that needs to be addressed, which the National Economic and Development Authority should be quite focused.

Marcos Jr. during his working visit to the United States as well as ASEAN countries such as Indonesia and Singapore, said the Philippines is very open to attracting investments, eliciting pledges worth  $3.9 billion in pledges during his US trip alone.