What is your gauge of an improving economy?

Increased buying power

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: My gauge of an improving economy is when I can start eating Angus steak instead of our local steak, which is as hard as the sole of my shoes, and when you see people eating out often. Most restaurants should be full, not just in the malls. Most Filipinos that hang out at the malls are just out there to tambay and to cool themselves off instead of spending money.  

Jimmy Donton, Puerto Princesa City: Economic improvement is best gauged when people have the capacity to buy their needs and wants in life. I guess only those who are used to the doleout mentality are complaining of a bad economy because they do not strive hard to become financially stable.  

Rose Leobrera, Manila: My idea of improvement in the economy: When I feel that everyday life is easy financially; when I can buy things that I fancy even on impulse; when my husband would make use of the family van daily kasi mura na daw ang gas, instead of his motorcycle; when I see less bums at the pondahan and at the barberya because it means that they have work; when I see government infrastructure projects that are meant to benefit the masa (like school buildings, hospitals, or housing projects); when work is easy to find, which means that there are investors who put their trust and confidence in our government; when there is an influx of tourists. Suma total, when nobody is complaining about the bitterness of daily living, then perhaps it means that we are improving as a nation.  

Jae delos Santos, Muntinlupa City: My gauge of an improving economy is a strong Philippine peso.  

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: We would see that our economy is improving when prices of basic commodities go down by a considerable amount.  

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: When the poor have the money to buy items other than their basic needs.  

Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: One simple but reliable and effective way of knowing if the economy is improving is when malls are crowded with shoppers buying, eating, and shopping.  

Spending like there’s no tomorrow

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: The mere fact that the country can afford to buy a presidential jet at a whopping cost of P1.2 billion only shows that the economy must be going great.  

Diony Yap, Bacolod City: The approval of the 2010 P7-billion poll automation highlighted by a lavish dinner in New York.  

Less poverty

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: My gauge of an improving economy is when I feel that the gap between the rich and the poor is closing in somehow. Under GMA, the rich has become richer, while the poor has become poorer.  

Leonard Villa, Batac City: When we don’t see street children vending and begging and don’t see slum dwellers, we could very well say that our economy has improved.  

Louella Brown, Baguio City: I gauge the economy by way of the following: A substantial decrease in poverty, each Filipino family eating three meals a day, and houses for those in slums.  

Elpidio Que, Vigan: We don’t see any improvement, except those presented by the President and her ilk. I would consider it a sign of an improving economy if she catches big fish involved in tax evasion, smuggling, and graft and corruption. Another sign of an improved economy is if the SWS and Pulse Asia reports that poverty is contracting.  

Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: Here in the rural barangay where I live, some people don’t have the luxury of eating three meals a day. When they can have three on their own, I’d say the economy is improving.  

Fortunato Aguirre, Bulacan: If there are less people foraging for food in garbage piles or we no longer export our professionals to do menial labor abroad, then our economy is robust.  

Vir Lauzon, General Santos City: The poor can eat three square meals a day; Filipinos don’t have to go abroad to find work; and less street crimes.  

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: My gauge of an improving economy: No beggars and taong grasa on the streets, no squatters, no jobless people, and free medical services.  

Improved standard of living

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: The simplest gauge of an improving economy is the happy look on the faces of people. A second gauge is the sight of malls teeming with people, carrying bags of goods. The third is when restaurants of note are crowded with people. The fourth is when more families go out of town to the beaches, to resorts, or spend some weekend nights in five-star hotels! Lastly, there should be less street children and beggars.  

Cris Rivera, Rizal: A growing economy can stop the exodus of a nation’s citizens, professionals, skilled and unskilled alike, who leave to either work or settle abroad. The standard of living of the nation’s citizens is a perfect gauge to determine if its economy is growing or not.  

Eddie Yap, Kabankalan City: My gauge of an improving economy is seeing the majority of the poor enjoying three square meals a day without fail and a decreasing number of out-of-school children. Being with the tourism office of our city, I think another good sign would be to see more people traveling and visiting beautiful spots in the Philippines.  

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: It’s not the ubiquitous malls and skyscrapers but the good quality life of people that is the gauge of an improving economy.  

Decreased unemployment

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: An improving GNP, less unemployment, less foreign debts, less poor families, and, most of all, less corruption, especially in government service!  

Romeo Nabong II, Saudi Arabia: If I notice the caboodle of jobless bystanders in front of our house gate disappear for a long time, only then I can gauge that the Philippine economy is, perhaps, improving.  

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: The masses should be happy and living well, with three square meals a day, a roof to shield them from the elements, clothes on their back, and all children in schools. Everyone should have a steady source of income, and not relying on doleouts from the government.  

Increased economic activity

Juan Deveraturda, Zambales: When more stores of Jollibee, McDonald’s, 7-11, Greenwich, and SM malls are being put up in towns and cities all over the country and more Filipinos are buying cellphones, it means that our economy is growing and people are getting richer.  

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: No more street beggars, a higher employment rate, less traffic woes; more investors and tourists coming into our country, increased buying power and exchange rate for the peso, trustworthy government leaders, increased private sector participation; parang Christmas time palagi ang buying power natin. These, among many others, are my indicators of an improving economy.  

Edgar Artates, Parañaque City: When the beer and car sales are up; more people go to entertainment places; more people travel and visit local tourist spots; the peso exchange rate is steady; there is a construction boom; there is an increase in appliance sales; prices of commodities are not moving; eateries are full; and fiesta celebrations are fantastic. These are only some of the visible things that would mean that the economy is doing well.  

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: It would be the possession of appliances and other tech gadgets. If surveys are right that more than 80 percent of Filipinos own at least one cellphone, then I’d say that we’ve improve economically.  

Loi Castillo, Davao City: My gauge of an improving economy: Higher beer sales, more spas and cellphones and more airlines flying the skies. I always see trucks loaded with new cars in the latest models, so business must be good.  

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: Less poor people on the streets, more infrastructure, more people spending their money, more jobs, more entrepreneurs succeeding in their investments, less corruption in private and government business, more teeth in the implementation of the law  these are what I consider to be indicators of an improving economy.  

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: When fastfood restaurants are teeming with diners during weekends, it’s an indication that the economy is improving.  

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Malls swelling with customers; the peso-dollar exchange fluctuating from P47 to P48; the caciques can recover their donated lands and developers are becoming richer; and the educated poor lose their principles and morality.  

Ruben Viray, Metro Manila: The continued construction of infrastructure, technology linking the islands, booming malls and more are my gauge of an improving economy.  

Better government services

Bernard Tansiongco, Metro Manila: Disregarding the government’s usual gauge of an improving economy, i.e. higher GDP, exports and remittances from OFWs and positive BOP, etc., I would say an improving economy can be best measured through better infrastructure, more job opportunities, higher salaries, better government service (e.g. health care, education, housing, etc.) and most especially, more food for on the table for every poor family.  

More job opportunities

Elizabeth Oximer, Negros Occidental: When only a few of our people go abroad to work and leave their loved ones behind because there are job opportunities locally.  

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: More jobs for everyone, more foreign and local businesses, a higher standard of living, less poverty, less crime, etc. These are signs of a robust economy.  

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: OFWs returning home for good and finding good-paying jobs in our country will be an incontrovertible gauge of an improved economy.  As it is, we have a consumer-driven economy sustained by the billions of dollars in remittances of our OFWs.  Even our local investors are forced to invest their funds abroad rather than help develop our own industries due to prevailing hostile and unwieldy government rules and regulations.  

June Deoferio, Cavite: More job openings, increased infrastructure development, and stable stock market prices.  

Development felt by all

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: If the favorable economic statistics that sound too good to be true are felt by everybody, that means that our economy is improving. Our economy is sure to be improving if every head of the family can earn at least the minimum wage. Families should be able to sleep well at night without worrying about their next meal. Children should be able to go to school. They should have at least a day in a week for their family, friends, and church activities. They should be able to go to the health center every six months for check ups to maintain their health. They should be able to go to court without worries. They should be able to go anytime and anywhere at peace.  

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, Laguna: A significant majority of the Filipino people should have a better economic status. There should be no detrimental effects of poverty, unemployment, and natural disasters. There should be no signs of corruption from the high administration. People should always adhere to the strong power of prayer as well as exert their own efforts, with determination, patience, hard work and discipline.  

Digoy Coro, Batangas: We can say that the economy is improving when basic services improve and is being felt by the poorest of the poor.  

Happiness index

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: My gauge of an improving economy is when the people or inhabitants therein are happy and contented.  

Elsa Mendoza, Quezon City: My gauge of an improving economy is a generally happy and satisfied population living in a fairly peaceful and orderly environment. Investments are established with less difficulty because red tape and other banes of the trade would be things of the past. People have jobs. Everybody, investors and citizens alike, pay their correct taxes. Therefore, the country’s coffers get the necessary increment to allow the President to judiciously provide efficacious services to the people. Well-paid teachers have enough classrooms wherein to impart affordable quality education. There are adequate equipment and medicines as well as well-paid medical practitioners in government hospitals. Labor is not agitated because private and government earners alike get fair wages. Every citizen eats three square meals a day. Families have a roof over their heads. There is prudent spending and transparency in all government dealings hence, people find no cause to censure.  

J-Dub Wenceslao, Quezon City: Less insurgency and rallies, the conviction of corrupt officials, and a smile from Tatay.  

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: How do I gauge an improving economy? a) People are happy, well-fed and well-dressed; b) peace and order prevail; and c) other countries respect us. As of now, only PGMA and Imelda’s allies, relatives, and amuyong fall under A, while B exists only in exclusive villages, and C applies only to our boxers and singers. Honestly, the only time I experienced an improving economy was before FM declared martial law. After that, it was all downhill. Erap sunk us deeper and PGMA kept us afloat.  

A stable economic climate

Rod Villar, Iriga City: I’m not an economist, but I can see, hear and feel what’s going on in the domestic and global markets. Our currency and stock market are stable; prices of prime commodities are within the reach of ordinary people; and, most importantly, we are not in recession as compared to the US and other wealthy countries despite the relentless destabilization efforts of trapos.  

Eric Valencia, Ilocos Sur: They say there is a global crisis, but in the Philippines, it is hardly felt. We are more stable today than during the 1997 crisis. Our budget deficit has shrunk, though it is slightly affected by the global crisis. The FDI, GDP, stock market and the peso are performing quite well, far better than during the administration of former Pres. Corazon Aquino.  

Equitable distribution of wealth

Vic Sanchez, Pasig City: A country’s improving economy cannot and must not be measured solely on the basis of its GDP and/or GNP. Other variables must also be considered, such as the equitable distribution of wealth and the quality of services the government renders.  

Rising oil prices, increased traffic

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: When oil prices again hit the ceiling and gridlocks reign in our streets, these are sure signs of an improving economy.  

Peace and order

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: If the crime rate goes down, it means that economic improvements are reaching the grassroots level. Our marginalized brothers are forced to commit crime out of necessity.  

More investors

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: We have a lot of domestic and foreign investments in our country today. Our economy has a lot of potentials to grow and glow with these investments.  

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: An improved economy is gauged by an increase in investments, production, consumption, savings, employment and salaries, and wages.  

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

NEXT INBOX QUESTION: What do you consider as your greatest luxury in this day and age?

If registered, text philstar<space>fb<space>your message and send to 2256 (all networks)

To register, text philstar<space>reg<space>name,gender,birthdate,address and send to 2256 (all networks)

You may also email your views to: [email protected].

(Editor’s Note: We have just added another channel to reach Inbox World via the growing Facebook community. If you have a Facebook account, add up PhilStar Inbox and give us a glimpse of your views on raging issues of the day. Selected comments will be published in The Philippine STAR Inbox World. Readers may also post intriguing questions for other Inbox friends to comment on. See you there.)