The big picture

Last week, in this very same section, we featured a story that shed light on Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) chief representative Hiroyuki Nakamura’s efforts to facilitate cooperation between ASEAN member countries and Japanese automobile manufacturers. A few days before (on Friday, July 18, to be exact), we came up with a special section in our main fold which featured Ford Motor Company Philippines’ (FMCP) landmark achievement of rolling off their 10,000th vehicle for export. Both stories were deemed newsworthy as they enlightened readers on the steps that both individuals and companies have been taking to ensure growth within the auto industry.

We’d hoped at the time that we were able to stress just how much these efforts to perform on a global level could help the Philippines and her economy get back to a competitive level in the ASEAN economic scene. They were small steps, if one were to look at the bigger picture, but necessary ones just the same. Apparently, we’d failed in stressing enough how much these very same steps meant — at least to a few people. Unfortunately, those people who either failed to read or completely ignored the said articles, were also the ones who were given the means to disrupt the economic leverage (however small) we as a country were just gaining.

As of presstime, the now infamous siege at Oakwood Premier in Ayala Center has ended and the damage, done. Like many people last July 27, this writer was glued to the television screen, awaiting anxiously what the 296 mutinous soldiers would be demanding and what kind of ideology they would be espousing. Imagine the disappointment, then, when their designated spokesman, Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV, came out on national television to say, "What economy are we talking about? Maganda ba ang economy natin?" when asked about the adverse effects his group’s actions would have on the country’s economy.

In a clear case of misguided nationalism, Trillanes began to wax poetic about the sad state of affairs in the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the difficulties our Filipino brothers were going through in rural and depressed areas, spewing rhetoric statement after rhetoric statement — and then he demanded that changes be instituted in the here and now. After throwing a tantrum with his co-plotters that the whole nation heard — Trillanes may be faulted for many things but his biggest fault could very well be a short-sightedness that could have been brought about by blind rage.

With a handful of men and women, Trillanes and company may have set the country back easily two years in the economic department, but they did not care. The messianic complex that many of us are inflicted with could very well be the cause of that. It’s been said many times that if you want to make the world a better place, there’s no better place to do it than here and no better time to do it than now. The question is, how far ought you go before you start feeling responsible for everyone else?

So what, for example, if FMCP is looking to lead the country to achieve the 100 to 150 thousand vehicle exports set by the government in five years? So what if Thailand expects to export 260,000 vehicles, Indonesia 120,000 vehicles and Malaysia 28,000 vehicles before this year ends and the Philippines gets stuck with a measly 14,000 vehicle target? So what if FMCP’s hitting its trade targets could mean additional jobs in a world-class, ISO-certified production facility for many of our Filipino brothers and sisters? So what if we scare off the Japanese professionals that the JAMA’s "Expert Dispatch Program" would have brought into the country to make more of our local manufacturers more competitive? So what if the trickle down effect of such specialization would not be realized? So what if the jobs that could have been generated had there been additional growth in the auto industry were now in peril?

If we had to solve all of our problems here and now, there would be no need to look way past our present woes — but there is a need. And there are ongoing efforts for expansion not just in the auto industry, but in every respectable sector of legitimate business as well. If our soldiers can’t see that, and if they can’t wait for us to take small steps to achieve bigger goals — and if they must time and again disrupt the Philippine business atmosphere that so many people are working hard to foster, then we will forever be stuck in a situation where we will be trying to catch up.

One thing people agree on, Trillanes and company have legitimate grievances. What they did to make people see those grievances, however, is questionable to say the least. There is a bigger picture that they could have unwittingly destroyed. It’s one we vow to help make our readers see.

People like FMCP president Henry Co and JAMA’s Hiroyuki Nakamura have a good grasp of the big picture. It’s one they’re trying to make those involved in the auto industry see, as well. "The math is very simple," says Co. "For the economy, 10,000 units of exports translates to $155 million in export revenues, $70 million in Philippine value added, 50,000 tires and wheels, 10,000 carpets, radiators, wiring harnesses, 40,000 springs, etc. However, all this also means larger bonuses for Ford Philippines employees, and most importantly, more jobs and better lives for thousands of Filipinos." That, dear Lieutenant, is the economy we are talking about. Let’s hope you take that into consideration the next time you decide to hold a nation’s financial district hostage. And to those who would follow in the rebels’ footsteps, here’s some advice, the next time you want to air your grievances, do a Chavit Singson and call a press conference and enact some real change — we in media will be waiting.