At his splendid home at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila, tastefully furnished in European style, Estrada spoke recently with BusinessWeek's Manjeet Kripalani. My top priority is to have an open market policy and to privatize. I assumed office at the height of the Asian crisis, and leading the economy back on the growth path has been the most important thing. My special focus is the living conditions of the poor. I want to eradicate poverty.
Food security is a problem.
We used to export sugar and rice, now we import both. By 2002, we will be rice-sufficient. By 2004, we will hopefully be exporting again. But unfortunately, our constitution is so protectionist, the most protectionist among Asian countries. So I'm fighting for an amendment in the constitution.