PCO: Marcos stays focused despite trust rating drop, blames fake news
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signs the CREATE MORE Act into law on Monday, November 11, 2024 at the Malacanang Palace. This law is aiming to position the Philippines as a top investment destination and drive investments-led economic growth. The new law amends the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 and enhances the country’s fiscal incentives framework. It extends the maximum duration of tax incentives for strategic investments from 17 to 27 years and reduces the corporate income tax rate for registered business enterprises to 20 percent. The law also introduces reforms like streamlined VAT refund processes, simplified local taxation, and improved incentives-related procedures to address investor concerns. Additionally, it institutionalizes flexible work arrangements for businesses in economic zones while preserving tax benefits. President Marcos emphasized that CREATE MORE not only opens doors for investors but also creates better economic opportunities for Filipinos, such as high-quality jobs. He affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that economic growth benefits all citizens. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING / PPA POOL
YUMMIEDINGDING
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Monday said that the governance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will remain focused on public service, despite plunging performance and trust ratings.
This statement follows a recent survey by Pulse Asia Research Incorporated, revealing that only 25 percent of Filipinos approve of Marcos’ performance, while a majority — 53 percent — expressed disapproval.
The trust ratings mirrored the plunge, dropping from 42 percent in February.
PCO Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro attributed the decline to the “widespread influence of fake news and disinformation.”
“That does not reflect the sentiment of the entire more than 100 million Filipinos," she said, pointing out that the poll had just 2,400 respondents.
‘Coordinated disinformation’
Moreover, in defending the President’s standing, Castro referenced a Reuters report that cited an Israeli tech firm’s analysis of social media conversations in the Philippines.
The report found that up to 45 percent of online political discourse was being driven by fake accounts, bots, and coordinated campaigns.
“The level of coordinated disinformation seen in the Philippines is far above the typical 7 percent to 10 percent range of online conversations globally about highly sensitive or polarizing issues,” Castro quoted from the report.
The Palace official added that the government must examine where the survey respondents came from and whether they are truly receiving accurate news or are being influenced by fake news.
She then emphasized that President Marcos remains focused on governance. "The President will do what is within the law, what is right," she said, despite the survey numbers.