Lakas-Kampi CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. Wednesday pushed for a stable business environment that assures the continuity of state policies to fuel the country's economic growth.

Teodoro criticized what he described as "the corruption of no long-term continuity of policies" causing the loss of business opportunities, discouraging investors who have grown wary of the lack of government guarantees of continuity in investor policies and a level playing field.

In reply to a question by Alberto Lim of the Makati Business Club on what economic opportunities were missed due to corruption, Teodoro said that "it’s hard to say what we missed, but definitely lots of opportunities were lost because of the impression of corruption and corruption."

The losses were in the form of foreign direct investments and local investments, Teodoro said.

“Opportunities lost are translated also in the length of time needed to recover from a catastrophic incident. Thailand needed two years to recover from a tsunami but the Philippines needs longer to recover from Ondoy," Teodoro said.

Relatedly, Teodoro said that creating a favorable business climate will help narrow the growing gap between the haves and have-nots.

"There are two ways of making people richer: you can get from those who have and give it to the poor, or make private incentives a centerpiece of your administration which in turn make people richer," Teodoro said.

He said the "common goal is to move as many people beyond the poverty line” as possible.

The government, Teodoro said, should work to assure investors of "equal opportunities and access for all and straight clear policies ab initio."

He said that while capital is needed and where the rich hold the advantage, opportunities can be equalized through methods that do not unduly cut off the market to those who are willing to venture.

As this developed, Teodoro’s running mate, Lakas vice presidential bet Edu Manzano Wednesday expressed his support for the resumption of the peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to put an end to the three-decade old secessionist rebellion.

“There is no military solution to the fighting in Mindanao. Lasting peace in that part of our country can only be achieved politically, through perseverance in working out a negotiated settlement,” said Manzano, former national president of the Vice-Mayors' League and one-time vice-mayor of Makati City.