A GROUP of former finance and economic officials from different administrations yesterday said President Arroyo's rosy economic projection is a "mirage" because it benefits only a few and has failed to make a dent on the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

The officials, led by former NEDA director general Cielito Habito, belittled the 7.3 percent economic growth last year, which Arroyo's economic managers said was the highest in the past three decades.

"Our economy cannot gain momentum when its actual growth is much lower than its reported numbers especially when whatever growth in the country's economy is benefiting only a few while the rest of the Filipinos wallow in poverty," they said in the statement "Fighting Corruption is Never Harmful to the Economy" issued at a press conference at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.

The conference was called by the group called Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO). Habito leads the economic cluster of the FSGO.

They said the economic performance is actually wanting based on the three factors:

. The growing concern among experts about the glaring and unprecedented inconsistencies in official statistics on growth, income and poverty that raise doubts about the reliability of the economic growth data.

. Recent official poverty statistics affirm that whatever growth was achieved in the past five years has benefited only a few.

. This "growth" has even swelled the ranks of the poor by almost four million Filipinos, with poverty rising not only in absolute numbers but also in relative terms.

The group said the economic statistics provided of the Arroyo administration is a "power point mirage good only for presentations in air-conditioned rooms and conference centers" but "false to ordinary Filipinos."

In a recent press conference, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) said the number of poor families has risen from the 24 out of 100 families in 2003 to 27 out of 100 families last year.

Poverty incidence also rose to 26.9 percent last year from 24.4 percent in 2003.

The group said the people can clearly see the difference between statistics and reality. This is what prompts the public to demand accountability from officials and for a no-nonsense campaign against graft and corruption, they said.

The group said graft is eating away at resources needed for vital social services.

They challenged Arroyo to make good on her pledge to fight corruption.

Habito said Arroyo is not serious in her vow against graft in her administration. This is shown, he said, in her habitual dismissal of protests as destabilizing efforts by the opposition.

"Corruption is never good for the economy. Corruption in the Office of the President is a curse on our economy. Fighting corruption, therefore, never harms the economy since any economic gains based on corruption in government are mere illusions, are of limited benefit, and cannot last long. Only transparency, accountability and fair play are enduring foundations for a strong economy," the statement said.

Other members of the economic cluster are former secretaries Benjamin Diokno (budget), Jesus Estanislao, Cesar Purisima, and Ramon del Rosario (finance); undersecretaries Milwilda Guevarra and Edgardo del Fonso (finance); Felipe Medalla, Cayetano Paderanga and Sixto Roxas (NEDA); National Treasurer Leonor Briones; Tomas Africa, former chief of the National Statistics Office; former; Vitaliano Naniagas and Francisco del Rosario, former chiefs of the Development Bank of the Philippines; Jose Cuisia Jr., former governor of the Bangko Sentral; Deogracias Vistan, former president of the Land Bank of the Philippines; Norberto Nazareno and Ricardo Tan, former presidents of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.; and former Monetary Board member Melito Salazar. - Ashzel Hachero