Ramos: Choose an engineer

CEBU - Former President Fidel V. Ramos has an advice to those planning to vote in the 2010 polls: “Vote for an engineer.”

Without naming names, Ramos hinted that an engineer can better lead the Philippines compared to an economist. So far, there is but one licensed engineer who has publicly expressed interest for the presidency- Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando.

Fernando is a Mechanical Engineer who established the BF Group of Companies, a steel fabrication, general construction and manufacturing business.

Asked if he was referring to Bayani, Ramos played coy by saying, “I’m not saying anything, kasi magkaroon pa nang adjustment ‘yan.”

Himself an engineer, Ramos added, “Let’s just say that we need someone who can visualize the whole picture, start and actualize.”

He also stressed that an effective leader must be “maka-Diyos, maka-tao maka-bansa, at maka-lisakasan.”

Ramos was in Cebu yesterday as keynote speaker during the Asia-Pacific Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production in Shangri-La Mactan.

The 12th president of the Philippines, the first half of Ramos’ six-year term was characterized by rapid economic growth despite the onslaught of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Ramos first joined the Philippine Military Academy as cadet and won a government scholarship to the United States Military Academy in West Point. He pursued further studies in engineering following his graduation from West Point in 1950, obtaining a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering in the University of Illinois, where he was also a government scholar in 1951.

He passed the civil engineering board examination in 1953, finishing in the top 10.

Even after his presidency, Ramos maintained his political clout and remained one of the many influential leaders in the Philippines. — Ehda Dago-oc and Nathalie Tomada/JMO (THE FREEMAN)