Three wishes

As we close the year, allow me to express three fervent wishes for 2020. In keeping with the economic team’s mantra, these are doable and measurable, and will certainly be of immense benefit to Filipinos in the next coming years.

First

Save the Filipino rice farmers. May the Department of Agriculture successfully implement the provisions of the Rice Tariffication Act that would set up mechanisms and strengthen our rice industry, specifically to benefit the estimated 10 million affected rice farmers.

It has been a particularly painful 2019 for them as imported rice flooded the market at a time when they were just beginning to harvest palay, thus driving farm gate prices at levels where losses would not allow them to recover their inputs, and worse, leave them with no capital for the coming planting season.

Admittedly, there are structural problems that beset our rice farmers that had been spawned by the shortsightedness of previous land reform laws. Individually, rice farmers now work on parcels of land of which sizes are not conducive to mechanization interventions, and which are now integral to improve land productivity.

While P10 billion a year until 2024 from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund is not a big deal compared to what other countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and India are spending to boost their rice production, this will still be a decent amount that can deliver long-lasting benefits if well used.

Second

Secure power and water sources. For an expanding economy and a fast-growing population, the certainty of power and water sources is a must. There has been too much dilly-dallying on these.

Sorting out the current delays that hamper new power generation projects and getting them off the ground in 2020 will need to be done to avoid more brownouts. More importantly, this will ensure that the economy will have a secure source of power to support the engines of growth in the upcoming decade.

Let 2020 be the year, too, when all the uncertainties that come with diminished water supplies for Metro Manila and its outlying suburbs and provinces end.

We need good interim short- and medium-term solutions that will attend to the growing scarcity of water that rapidly growing urbanized areas are starting to experience. More importantly, a longer-term source must be secured.

As studies have pointed out, our problem is not one of sourcing, but rather of better management. Thankfully, the country is still blessed with multiple and abundant sources of water.

Finding a way to harness its use in the most productive and acceptable way should be a win-win for all stakeholders involved, from the indigenous peoples, local residents, and environment that will be affected by the dams, to the users that will benefit from the opening up of these new water channels.

Third, and last

Let the programmed Build Build Build projects push ahead with no delays. We’re talking here of roads, bridges, airports, and seaports that will open the pathways to more efficient travel of goods and people throughout the country.

An efficient and cost-effective network that supports a cheaper movement of farm produce and manufactured goods will pave the way for a firmer basis towards inclusive growth.

While the popular Pantawid sa Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps has helped many poor Filipino families keep their children in school, its structure continues to intrinsically be a dole-out, a social intervention measure that should be used by our government for a limited time only.

The push of the current administration to put on the road all the basic infrastructure projects that need to be in place to support economic growth even after its term ends in 2022 will also ensure a more sustainable means for poor families to earn better, and thus pay for their children’s basic needs sans government dole-outs.

Uncontrollables

We face the coming year hoping that there will be less uncertainties both globally and locally, i.e., the “uncontrollables” that we all have to contend with, and simply have to be prepared to face and surmount.

The trade war between the US and China continues, and while this has not significantly affected us, we must prepare for the worst. At a certain point, looking at inward growth will no longer be enough, and the state of global affairs will be of growing importance to us.

Warnings of the ill effects of climate changes are ever increasing. The country is taking stock of the debilitating impact of stronger and more frequent typhoons, tidal waves, and earthquakes, and our coping mechanisms are getting better.

Still, there are more threats that need to be looked at, like rising sea level that are already submerging bigger portions of cities and islands in other parts of the world. As an archipelago, we also face this risk.

The potential of war – both ideological and economic – darken the skies. In the former, the migration of affected people has never been greater as communities flee persecution by those who wield power. In the latter, superpowers and wannabe superpowers are building up their fortresses and arsenals.

Greetings

In closing, let us all submit to prayer, just as we believe that faith can move mountains and part seas. The coming year may be tougher, and be fraught with more uncertainties, but it is up to us, individually, as a nation, and part of this world to continue being hopeful.

A happy new year to you and your family! Let us take better care of each other. Live well!

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