Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday noted the need to put forward the economic reform despite "political noise" caused by the latest scandal of election fraud and family member's involvement in illegal gambling against her.

During the speech before the "Business Meets Government Roundtable," President Arroyo said that the accomplishments have been yielded from the first phase of her economic reform, citing the increasing revenue, growing tax collection, and reducing budget deficit.

She called the business sector to support the government as always to bring the reform forward to gain the country the globe stand.

The accomplishment proves "my macroeconomic reform is sound and the foundation of economic recovery is solid," she said, "We should work hard to keep the momentum in the second phase of the reform agenda."

Arroyo noted that the most important task in the next phase of the reform is to ensure new revenue could lead to deficit reduction, social service promotion and job creation.

"This (the reform) goes beyond promise or personal interest," she said.

The president was haunted by the scandals including the wiretapping incidence, or "Gloriagate", concerning her alleged cheating in the last election, and the involvement of her family into "Jueteng" gambling.

In a TV speech on Monday night, she admitted that she actually called the election officials during the election 2004, but it was merely a "lapse of judgment" not violation of the law because she did not attempt to change the election result.

However, opposition members still demanded Arroyo's resignation and the deeper investigation in the two scandals.

During the speech to about 200 local and international business leaders and senior academicians attending the Roundtable including President of Asian Development Bank Haruhiko Kuroda, Arroyo urged to end the political noise overshadowing the economic reform.

Defending herself from "Jueteng" scandal, Arroyo cited her father, Former President Diosdado Macapagal from 1961 to 1965, saying that as a president, she should put God first, country second, and then her family.

She thanked her family for their sacrifice for her political career through giving up some of their job opportunities.

The First Gentleman, Mr. Arroyo, the president said, is even " voluntarily to go abroad to allow me to serve best as president."

Analysts earlier said that Arroyo is currently trying to win back the public trust and support with her economic blueprint and anti-corruption resolve to offset the negative effect the scandal brought to her administration.

At the Roundtable, Chairman of Philippine Business Leaders Forum Jose P. Leviste assured President Arroyo that he and his fellows would be on her side in building the future of the country.

Source: Xinhua