Former Department of Finance Secretary Gary Teves underscored the need for government funds to directly contribute to economic growth, citing the urgency of addressing unemployment and improving infrastructure to strengthen the domestic market.

“Ang pera ng gobyerno, kailangan makatulong ito sa pagpapataas ng ekonomiya. Marami tayong mamamayan na walang trabaho.” Teves said during an exclusive interview in DZRH's program Dos Por Dos, warning that inadequate infrastructure drives up costs for local companies and discourages consumers from supporting domestic products.

He stressed the importance of creating more employment opportunities to prevent graduates from seeking work abroad, which could otherwise undermine the country’s long-term growth potential.

Teves also emphasized that transparency, enforcement, and accountability are vital in ensuring effective governance, wherein numerous probes have been happening now in the government to secure accountability from the flood control scam.

“Mahalaga na sa mga nangyayaring ito, may enforcement. Kung kapos ang enforcement at conviction, hindi masyadong effective. Ituloy natin not only to improve the system but to improve accountability as well,” he said.

While supporting calls for greater transparency in bicameral conferences, Teves pointed out that reforms will only succeed if matched with strong implementation.

"Combination po ito ng good system and good people to run. It goes all the way to the leadership. Kung makakatulong ang pangulo, it can permeate hanggang sa maliliit na ahensya,” he added.