Pagsusuri ng IMF sa PHL economy

INILABAS ng International Monetary Fund (IMF) ang “The Determinants of Economic Growth in the Philippines: A New Look,” kung saan sinuri ang economic performance ng bansa mula 1965 hanggang 2008. Base sa report, noong 1950s, pangalawa ang Pilipinas sa may pinakamataas na per capita gross domestic product (GDP) sa buong Asya, pero sa paglipas ng mga taon, napag-iwanan ito ng Ma­laysia, Indonesia, Thailand at Vietnam.

“The Philippines’ mediocre performance in a number of indicators – particularly relative to its Asian counterparts – illuminates some of the existing pieces of the Philippine growth puzzle,” ayon sa report.

Ang mga pangunahing manipestasyon umano nito ay “weak agricultural productivity; high government debt; low public, private, and foreign investment; weak research and development spending; low spending on education; lackluster tourism sector; relatively high income inequality; high corruption; strong population growth; more episodes of financial crisis; and political uncertainty. The government’s focus on public-private partnerships for traditional and non-traditional infrastructure investments would also maximize the returns to development, while strengthening the focus of education on the sciences in all levels would encourage future researchers and scientists who would be instrumental in nation building.”

Ayon sa aking anak na si Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, dapat pagkunan ng leksiyon ang IMF report. Kailangan aniyang pondohan nang sapat ng pamahalaan ang mga susing aspeto ng ekonomiya laluna ang pagpapataas ng productivity ng mga mamamayan.

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Happy birthday: dating Pasay City Rep. Rolando Briones­ (Dec. 14); Capiz Rep. Vicente Andaya at Davao Del Norte Rep. Antonio Tonyboy Floirendo, (Dec. 15); at Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona (Dec. 16).