On the fly or bust?

The recent crime wave and the latest bomb blast have put us back in yet another unfortunate situation. Just the other day, the Department of Trade and Industry gave a briefing on its plans and programs. Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo and BOI head Tito Panlilio stressed the need to create an enabling environment for investors as well as to level the playing field. Greg Domingo talked about creating more jobs to significantly reduce poverty in the country, a no mean feat considering that the underemployment ratio (which included seasonal or part time workers) is at a high of 20 percent. At the same time, they also recognize the need to balance the interest of the business sector with that of the consuming public – a task which is undoubtedly “delicate,” to say the least.

Tito Panlilio disclosed their target GNP growth rate of eight to 10 percent, with the per capita income to increase to P108,421 this year. This may sound quite ambitious to many but nevertheless, DTI is confident that this is doable. Tito enumerated the most significant contributors of GNP growth such as the BPO sector, OFW remittances, public-private partnerships or PPP, foreign direct investments (expected to reach $3.5 billion) as well as domestic investments plus an incremental increase of P104 billion in the national budget.

An interesting note came from USec for International Trade Che Cristobal who disclosed that although the United States and Japan are still the Philippines’ biggest country-markets, we are losing our market share in these countries. On the other hand, China is emerging as an important buyer of Philippine exports although China’s global imports are growing much faster. In 2009, the European Union emerged as the country’s top export destination followed by the US, Japan, Hong Kong and China. Among our exports, the top products are still electrical and electronic equipment (such as semiconductors) and auto parts.

Among the strategies to be implemented by the DTI in improving the country’s market position include maximizing Free Trade Agreements and engaging both the US and the EU in phased negotiations; targeting emerging markets with high economic growth for finished-goods exports such as Brazil, Russia, India and China as well as Canada; participating in global supply chains with China, India and ASEAN as primary destinations for re-exports to the US and EU consumer markets.

DTI is banking on the high political capital of President Noynoy Aquino’s administration; the perception of “effective good governance and clean government”; plus an improvement in the Philippines’ competitive rating which will all contribute in making the eight to 10 percent GNP growth target attainable. That is assuming however that no major economic downturn caused by high fuel and commodity prices will occur, Tito Panlilio explained. And as Greg summed it up, they will achieve targets through innovation (new ways of doing things which may even mean doing fewer things but in a bigger and better method); automation (to cut the red tape and facilitate business processing faster); and execution which simply means planning less and executing more. Let’s just pray these plans are still possible despite all these recent negative news.

US concerned with bombing

US Ambassador Harry Thomas sent me a text message expressing his deep condolence for the victims of the EDSA bus explosion (reminiscent of the Valentine’s Day bus bombings in 2005). With the Philippines being an ally of the United States in the fight against terrorism, the US is expected to send FBI experts to help our local authorities in the investigation of the blast.

Terrorism is a worldwide concern with these criminals getting bolder and going beyond borders to sow fear and panic among people, which is why countries like the US (which is a primary target) have consistently warned allies like the Philippines not to let our guard down. We often get offended when they send out travel advisories but in the end we should always take them seriously. “Better safe than sorry” is a very good practice. The recent attack on Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport that killed 35 and injured 180 people is believed to be the work of terrorists despite the fact that many believe Russia is ruled by Putin’s iron hand.

Max Soliven’s biography soon written

Former Philippine STAR columnist Nelson Navarro is set to write the biography of our dear friend, the late Philippine STAR publisher Max Soliven. Up to this day, we still hear people wondering and asking what Max would have written about the current situation in the country today. Max Soliven’s biography is long overdue, and we remember telling him to dictate to us many of his legendary experiences as a journalist – having talked to nine Philippine Presidents, meeting with rouges, exchanging views with heroes, covering wars, and chronicling history as he watched it unfold before his eyes. Max spent more than 50 years of his life wielding his pen (or more like banging the keys of his old Olympia typewriter) to praise, denounce, admonish and lambast those whom he felt were doing a disservice to this country. To many of us, there will never be anyone that can ever come close to such a fiery, prolific and brilliant journalist like Max Soliven.

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