Philippines on track to sustain first world status

MANILA, Philippines — It has been said so often that it has almost become gospel: The Philippines is on track to first world status within a generation’s time. We are – after all, in the so-called Asian Century in which the region is becoming an engine of global growth in the next 20 years.

We see the improvement in economic indicators, in the affirmations of international credit-rating agencies, in the encouragement of development partners to build, build, build and grow, grow, grow.

But people are more than just numbers, and in every story of economic development comes a change in the identity, hopes, dreams, and aspirations of its people.

On a personal level, we may see more tangible signs such as having more mothers having careers outside the home and how almost every family now has someone working overseas. There are also more instances where member living abroad is a professional, perhaps the child of a former overseas domestic helper who plowed her life’s earnings for the child’s education.

How is rapid economic progress changing Filipinos and how exciting and challenging is this time for us as a people?

For the country’s chief economist, Filipinos now stand at the precipice of hope and unlimited opportunity as more possibilities open to a generation that is more educated and more attuned to global sensibilities.

Filipinos have also become more demanding of their government, expecting more tangible outcomes from their leaders.

“I think hope has been stirred and it is now at the highest level in recent years. Filipinos are now expecting a lot from this government and indeed this administration is trying very hard to deliver commitments in a timely manner,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

With the rise of technology and rapid economic progress at home and in the region in recent years, Filipinos have also become more critical of themselves, benchmarking their accomplishments not only locally, but globally as well.

“This is really an age when we are facing rising expectations. Because of technology and social media, everybody is easily made aware of what is going on around the world, what is going on in neighboring countries in Asia,” said Pernia. “Filipinos are now able to relate what is happening here versus what is happening in other countries.”

Armed with higher levels of education and greater access to technology, the Filipino is now unafraid to make the world his professional playground. Pernia believes this newfound strength is enabling the shift in the profile of Filipino workers abroad.

“There’s also a changing structure of the types of Filipinos working abroad. They are more educated, with more professionals and technical workers compared with the previous era when blue collar workers were more prominent in overseas labor markets,” said Pernia.

The Philippine economy is growing at a phenomenal rate, one of the fastest in Asia that it is said that by 2050, the Philippines will be the 16th largest economy in the world, driven by its young and growing population that is becoming more educated and worldly.

“Filipinos are better able now than before. We have innate talents and it’s a matter of developing these talents. Many Filipinos are also up for challenges to compete or fight it out in the competitive market,” said Pernia.

Even if most Filipinos still possess traditional family-oriented values, more and more Filipinas are joining the workforce, cultivating careers while taking the lead in taking care of their families.

Pernia said this movement among Filipinas would help the country reach further heights. Thus, there is a need to capacitate more women to have productive careers.

One way the government is doing this is by pushing for the full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law that will educate women on the proper spacing of children.

“It’s really important so women will not be burdened as traditionally so by excessive childbearing and too much child care and home work. So women can actively participate in the workforce, pursue their careers, continue their education,” said Pernia.

“Implementing the RPRH Law also means making women more aware of opportunities that lie ahead if they space and limit the number of children they will have,” he added.

Filipinas, he said, could have a valuable contribution in nation building as they are traditionally better performers in school.

“There should be better distribution of roles between men and women. This is general gender equality. Women should not be viewed by society as an inferior gender. It’s an old thinking. Women should be able to reach their full potential in careers. Women are better performers in school. There is a lower drop out rate among them, so why should they be given secondary roles?” he said.

As the country continues its growth trajectory, there will come a time when working overseas will no longer be the sole option or choice for most Filipinos to achieve a better quality of life.

When that time comes, Pernia believes the aspirations of Filipinos will change again to one that is rooted, but with the ability to easily travel for work or leisure much like other Asians who struggled in the wave of globalization.

“Those who do not want family separation, they will aspire to find jobs here as the economy grows,” he said. “Filipinos are now more mobile. In the future they may be more rooted, but with the ability to travel unlike before.”

Many young Filipinos, for instance, are becoming more entrepreneurs, instead of seeking employment, as they see a growing market for goods and services.

“There are now many millennials that do startups, so entrepreneurship among them is also becoming more of the goal than employment. Their ambition is also becoming wider,” said Pernia.

The government has laid out a vision of what the lives of Filipinos should be within a generation’s time. By 2040 at least, the Philippines is envisioned to become a predominantly middle class society enjoying work-life balance with family and friends.

These aspirations are contained in the Ambisyon Natin 2040, a set of aspirations laid down in 2016 that is best captured in the Filipino words “matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay.” Rooted, comfortable, and a secure life free from worry and strife.

This seemingly simple aspiration for the common Filipino family entails a gross monthly income of P120,000 (at 2015 prices). This means a family of four can have a car, a medium-sized house, college education for the children, and something to spare for occasional trips – all while working in the country.

At the time of its creation, Ambisyon was not tied to a national economic plan but was meant to determine the medium-term and long-term aspirations of Filipinos regarding the standard of living, finances, and security within a generation’s time.

But in 2017, the government aligned its new medium-term development plan with this long-term vision.