Estrada promises firm leadership

Estrada promises firm leadership

MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Joseph Estrada, faced with calls from investors for clear policy directions, pledged on Thursday to provide firm leadership to get the country out of its economic crisis.

"We can brave the storm," Estrada told foreign diplomats, businesspeople and government officials in a nationally televised speech summing up his first 100 days in office.

Filipino and foreign businessmen have said the former movie actor should be given time to learn his job, but have expressed dismay at what they said were confusing policy statements from the new administration.

Estrada cited the government role in enabling flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to resume operations on Wednesday after financial losses and labor conflicts forced it to close down as "a major test for our administration".