2013: Realignment for real growth

December, hailed as the month of peace, love and understanding, formally ends.   As it ends, the year that is marked with unforgiving catastrophes, endless banditries, notorious kidnappings, ruthless killings, senseless bombings and political bickering will likewise end.  Unfortunately, only the “time-bound” year ends; the worries and hates will certainly linger. 

Sadly, it is ironic to say that worries will certainly linger.  This is rightly so, as the country claimed to have achieved an unprecedented economic growth this year.  Yes, to most of us, it’s baffling.  To those in the know, however, the answer is simple.  The economy has expanded but its benefits have not trickled down to the masses or those who are languishing in abject poverty.

Truth to tell, the country’s service sector has expanded and the list of Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs has grown in pages day by day.  In both instances, however, those who are making the most of these opportunities are the moneyed ones or those families that, at the very least, have adequately-schooled children.

This country’s situation can be mirrored in our very own Cebu, a melting pot that has its own share of rural migrants and informal settlers.  Ask anybody in Cebu who is in the know of the local economy and he will certainly tell you that the identified drivers are tourism, business process outsourcing (BPO) and export.   If you are keen enough, you would notice that these are foreign-money driven.  Tourism largely depends on foreign tourists’ spending.  Obviously, BPOs and exports cater to foreign companies’ needs.  Visibly though, while tourism and BPO industries have sustained us, exports of goods have remained undesirable.

Looking at this scenario closely, anyone can easily single out that the service sector (BPOs and tourism) is contributing well to Cebu’s economy. Dissecting it further though (despite claims of multiplier effects), noticeably, direct employment wise, the sector vastly favors the professionals or those who are, at the very least, have benefits of secondary or tertiary education.  On the other hand, merchandise exports industry has remained miserable.  Due to this industry’s predicament, the potential beneficiaries for its growth (like the not-well-schooled but skilled furniture carpenters) have remained just as miserable. 

Thanks to Cebu’s construction boom, its truest impact wasn’t felt at all. This construction boom has become a saving grace as it directly generated thousands of employment.  On top of these, the boom itself helps the furniture industry rise above water as the domestic demand for furniture increased as well. 

However, Cebu could have done more.  Unfortunately though, due to our leaders’ misplaced pride and lust for power, some surefire solutions have remained dormant.  Undeniably, the ongoing rift among our local leaders has rendered the other “would-be-savior” projects or developments as unlikely hostages.  Supposedly, if realized, these projects could have easily generated thousands of employment and fill hundreds of thousands of stomachs during construction alone.  As buildings rise, these shall be stuffed with furniture, fixtures and accessories too, thus, helping the ailing furniture industry as well. 

Fortunately, it isn’t a completely hopeless situation at all.  Cebuanos should bring back that era when the CEOs of the City and Province Cebu were harmoniously working together.  To recall, such harmony brought about with ease the transformation of the Club Filipino-managed golf course into what now stands as the bustling Cebu Business Park.  Similarly, such healthy relationship brought about the conversion of the then exclusively-for-affluent Lahug Airport to what is now dubbed as the multi-million dollar earning Asiatown IT Park.

The year 2013 brings us the opportunity to bring back such fruitful era in the Cebu Island’s economy.  As election nears, what is paramount is for us to try to help realign the political forces in Cebu for the economy’s benefit. 

All said, the brightness or dullness of Cebu’s 2013 prospects and beyond largely depend on us.

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