What Pinoys want to hear from P-Noy

MANILA, Philippines - More than exposes on the wrongdoings (or even unimaginable scandals) of the previous administration, Filipinos will be looking forward to hearing how the country’s 15th president, in his first State of the Nation Address, plans to lead this country during the next six years.

Expectations can be summed up in a single question: What would President Benigno Simeon Aquino III promise this nation of 92 million people that would ultimately translate to a better life for the current as well as future generations?

President Aquino or P-Noy has, after all, created in our minds how different he is from traditional politicians who promise to serve the whole nation with true fervor and dedication, but when elected are quick to forget all these, and quickly grab every opportunity to enrich himself while in office.

During the election trail, P-Noy had chosen to center his campaign on the issue of corruption as the single most important problem that is weakening the country. And he had amply echoed this in his inaugural address by promising us the highest form of servitude from him and his whole bureaucracy.

Good governance

In the three weeks running up to SONA day, P-Noy had focused on picking what he viewed are the key good men who will serve the country with selflessness and humility, and who will emulate the highest moral standards while in office.

He will need plenty of people who can be trusted and relied on simply because the state machinery is in such dismal state, and he alone – even with his earnestness – would not be able to remedy. Choosing the right people, therefore, is important.

The heart, however, must follow a good mind. And this is one of the biggest challenges of P-Noy. He has been likened by one of his campaign generals to Frodo Baggins, a fictional character in J.R. Tolkien’s famous book, who broke evil’s grip of the Middle Kingdom by destroying the ring of power.

But we need a Gandalf, one who will lead us from the darkness into the light. We need a leader who will tell us how to battle corruption, not just by showing himself to be beyond reproach, but by detailing step-by-step achievable and effective measures.

Pinoys will want to hear from the President how the budget deficit will be tackled. A true leader should be able to come up with a reasonable plan of action that should at least balance government spending vis-à-vis income (largely from tax collections).

Then there is the matter of debt. Given the gargantuan size of the country’s past borrowings, will President Aquino’s government put a stop to all these, even if this action would be to the detriment of infrastructure spending that is so much needed to nurture business, and therefore the economy, to grow?

The country so badly needs super highways, roads, bridges, trains, docks, airports, power stations, cheap electricity, adequate water, and efficient telecommunication lines. And all these are on the priority list.

Economic blueprint

Will the Philippines best remain as a country acknowledged for its huge overseas work force, one that has been responsible for keeping the country’s fragile economy afloat even as the mightiest nations of the world were experiencing negative growth?

Or should P-Noy be more resolute in leading this country towards a new future where Filipinos need not seek jobs abroad because there would be enough opportunities locally that would be able to buy three meals a day and provide for a decent home.

If this is so, what would the approach be? We urgently need a workable economic blueprint that will address the demands of our huge and rapidly growing population, one that will provide a decent job for every capable Filipino, and in the process bring down poverty levels.

It should be a blueprint that is able to prioritize the government’s meager resources but producing the best outcome. Above all, when the plan is approved, it will be implemented without wavering and with full state support. In other words, it should happen.

When Thailand decided to become a strong tourist destination not only in Asia but in the world, its government set clear goals to achieve this goal and set aside enough funds to make this aspiration happen. Is this difficult to do?

Before focusing on tourism, the Thai government decided to empower its agriculture sector, thereby ensuring security of food for every Thai citizen.

With bumper harvests, the state encouraged growers to export excess produce.

Again, is this difficult to do?

And speaking of Thailand, we are once again reminded of the role that peace and order plays in keeping the economy growing at an even keel. There still exists some interesting interplay between military forces, and while we have not seen its ugly head rear up in the last couple of years, it is best not to be complacent about it.

Not by P-Noy alone

It seems that the task of running a nation like the Philippines will require someone short of being a superman. We have seen from past administrations that knowledge of economic principles, or business or even the law does not automatically make for a successful regime.

We wait with bated breath to see how P-Noy will bring this nation forward. One thing for sure, it will not happen just with having a pure heart. He will need to roll up his sleeves and put in some real hard work and even experience some sleepless nights.

But it’s not all about P-Noy alone. It will have to be all the Pinoys. We all have to buckle down to work to make the changes. Now. 

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.