How do you see the Philippines 5 years from now?
November 4, 2001 | 12:00am
These past few months, we’ve seen and heard nothing but negative news around the world. In the US, where the worst of the terrorist attacks occurred, we witnessed how its people became united for a common cause. They have forgotten their party affiliations and have faced the September 11 tragedy as one people. They have pulled together to help one another face the future.
If the US can do it, so can we. A long weekend is the best time to stop and reflect on the question, "How do we see the Philippines five years from now?"
We should start nurturing positive thoughts. We should forget crab mentality, shun selfish political and business agenda and start moving together as a people. Let’s do what we can right now for the sake of our children and their future.
Col. Reynaldo Berroya, Central Luzon police director: We hope our country would be crime-free and criminal politicians-free.
Sec. Vicky Garchitorena, Presidential Management Staff: I see the country halfway to winning the war against poverty.
Dr. Miriam Defensor Santiago, former senator: The Philippines should remain a representative democracy, with a preferential option for the poor. In other words, there has to be a radical restructuring of the economy. This will include abolition of the culture of corruption. But I don’t think this is attainable because the rich will never allow radical change. The rich will support reform, as long as they remain rich and the rest of the country remains poor.
Change can be attained by any of the following radical ways: One, the government will lose legitimacy, and a revolution will take place. Two, in the alternative, government will turn to repression. Three, what will take place is gradual and incremental reform, representing change within continuity. This third option is a pipe dream! Anyway, good luck to all of us.
Former Ilocos Gov. Chavit Singson: It will take time bago tayo mag-develop dahil wala tayong disiplina, But I hope five years from now, maganda na talaga ang Pilipinas. Lahat ng natural resources nandito. Hopefully by that time mas maganda na kaysa ngayon.
Tourism Sec. Dick Gordon: The Philippines should have a better attitude about itself. We should stop feeling like victims and start thinking like victors. Only when we start believing in ourselves will we have a sense of community and a sense of country. If we can be clean in our own home, we can extend this outside our home and make it a culture of tourism. Then everybody can get a job, everybody can profit, and we would do ourselves proud. That’s the way I look at it.
Sec. Roilo Golez: Five years from now, I’d like to see the Philippines on competitive terms with our closest neighbors like Malaysia, Thailand, even Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. We would have overcome our peace and order problems, including the Abu Sayyaf, MILF, CPP, NPA, so that our principal agenda is development. We have all the ingredients to become internationally competitive. In order to achieve this, we first have to address the peace and order situation and strive for good governance.
Former Finance Sec. Tito Pardo: Speaking with tempered optimism, I see the beginnings of a sustained level of development which could finally impact on the well-being of the marginalized poor. In the next five years, the fulfillment of our sovereign commitment in the region will help accelerate economic growth and surely make the Philippines more investment-attractive as we integrate into a 550-million-strong ASEAN market. The country’s obvious edge in the ensuing economic dynamics is our highly skilled, easily trainable and English-speaking workforce.
Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos: I’ve always been optimistic and continue to have great expectations of our country and people. Now that the whole world is busy trying to attain peace amidst terrorism and violence, we should look at ourselves and our country and realize that we have all the potential for greatness, because we are a very rich country.
We are rich in natural resources and human resources. We have almost 100 percent literacy rate and we are the third largest English-speaking country in the world. We are strategically located. The Philippines has the potential of becoming an international trade and commercial center.
Gov. Raul Daza, Northern Samar province, and Erap impeachment trial defense lawyer: I’d like to see our country peaceful, progressive and peopled by a God-loving nation firmly committed to the ideals of democracy, justice and human rights. This is attainable if united we strive, sacrifice and struggle for it. In the final analysis, we can, and shall have a country that we ourselves make and deserve.
Rep. Ace Barbers, 2nd District Surigao: I want the Philippines to be at par with Singapore, or even Japan, in terms of economic development. I think we can achieve this goal provided, one, we have the political will, and two, there’s cooperation among our people. On the legislative side, we should come up with measures to push the economy. In the banking sector, we’re looking at amendments to existing laws. On the investment side, we can strengthen and promote the image of the Philippines, so investors will be encouraged to come in.
If the US can do it, so can we. A long weekend is the best time to stop and reflect on the question, "How do we see the Philippines five years from now?"
We should start nurturing positive thoughts. We should forget crab mentality, shun selfish political and business agenda and start moving together as a people. Let’s do what we can right now for the sake of our children and their future.
Col. Reynaldo Berroya, Central Luzon police director: We hope our country would be crime-free and criminal politicians-free.
Sec. Vicky Garchitorena, Presidential Management Staff: I see the country halfway to winning the war against poverty.
Dr. Miriam Defensor Santiago, former senator: The Philippines should remain a representative democracy, with a preferential option for the poor. In other words, there has to be a radical restructuring of the economy. This will include abolition of the culture of corruption. But I don’t think this is attainable because the rich will never allow radical change. The rich will support reform, as long as they remain rich and the rest of the country remains poor.
Change can be attained by any of the following radical ways: One, the government will lose legitimacy, and a revolution will take place. Two, in the alternative, government will turn to repression. Three, what will take place is gradual and incremental reform, representing change within continuity. This third option is a pipe dream! Anyway, good luck to all of us.
Former Ilocos Gov. Chavit Singson: It will take time bago tayo mag-develop dahil wala tayong disiplina, But I hope five years from now, maganda na talaga ang Pilipinas. Lahat ng natural resources nandito. Hopefully by that time mas maganda na kaysa ngayon.
Tourism Sec. Dick Gordon: The Philippines should have a better attitude about itself. We should stop feeling like victims and start thinking like victors. Only when we start believing in ourselves will we have a sense of community and a sense of country. If we can be clean in our own home, we can extend this outside our home and make it a culture of tourism. Then everybody can get a job, everybody can profit, and we would do ourselves proud. That’s the way I look at it.
Sec. Roilo Golez: Five years from now, I’d like to see the Philippines on competitive terms with our closest neighbors like Malaysia, Thailand, even Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. We would have overcome our peace and order problems, including the Abu Sayyaf, MILF, CPP, NPA, so that our principal agenda is development. We have all the ingredients to become internationally competitive. In order to achieve this, we first have to address the peace and order situation and strive for good governance.
Former Finance Sec. Tito Pardo: Speaking with tempered optimism, I see the beginnings of a sustained level of development which could finally impact on the well-being of the marginalized poor. In the next five years, the fulfillment of our sovereign commitment in the region will help accelerate economic growth and surely make the Philippines more investment-attractive as we integrate into a 550-million-strong ASEAN market. The country’s obvious edge in the ensuing economic dynamics is our highly skilled, easily trainable and English-speaking workforce.
Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos: I’ve always been optimistic and continue to have great expectations of our country and people. Now that the whole world is busy trying to attain peace amidst terrorism and violence, we should look at ourselves and our country and realize that we have all the potential for greatness, because we are a very rich country.
We are rich in natural resources and human resources. We have almost 100 percent literacy rate and we are the third largest English-speaking country in the world. We are strategically located. The Philippines has the potential of becoming an international trade and commercial center.
Gov. Raul Daza, Northern Samar province, and Erap impeachment trial defense lawyer: I’d like to see our country peaceful, progressive and peopled by a God-loving nation firmly committed to the ideals of democracy, justice and human rights. This is attainable if united we strive, sacrifice and struggle for it. In the final analysis, we can, and shall have a country that we ourselves make and deserve.
Rep. Ace Barbers, 2nd District Surigao: I want the Philippines to be at par with Singapore, or even Japan, in terms of economic development. I think we can achieve this goal provided, one, we have the political will, and two, there’s cooperation among our people. On the legislative side, we should come up with measures to push the economy. In the banking sector, we’re looking at amendments to existing laws. On the investment side, we can strengthen and promote the image of the Philippines, so investors will be encouraged to come in.
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