The year that was; challenges in 2019
T’WAS
a good year, some would say, but a general perception is that 2018 has been a year of uncertainty and missed opportunities. Let’s start with the good things that we have achieved. A unanimous vote goes to the passage of the Bangsamoro Law, albeit with many unforeseen roadblocks, and despite its having failed to integrate the political dynasty provision. We also include the Free Tuition Law which is of immense help to thousands of families in marginalized communities; TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) and its good intentions – to simplify tax the system, improve healthcare, and finance world-class infrastructure under the “Build, Build, Build project” and facilitate the latter under the “Ease of Doing Business” laws. We still have to experience its real benefits as we have seen how it had worsened the lives of millions through rising inflation.
The rehabilitation of Boracay promises to strengthen domestic and foreign tourism. Although the Duterte government claims that it had lowered criminality and drug use, the toll it had exacted in numbers of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations negates the gains it had achieved.
Charter change initiatives have been a total fiasco. Despite surveys showing public opposition, the administration was bent on investing resources in congressional committee consultations and preparation of a draft by a Consultative Committee. The latter was discarded in favor of a version drafted by the Lower House under the new Speaker, Gloria Arroyo. Clearly, it was an insult to the consultative committee headed by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno who expressed dismay with the new draft that did not in any way reflect the true structure of federalism. Omitted were critical provisions – anti-political dynasty, limits in terms of office, strengthening political parties, among others.
President Duterte’s “silence on the draft is deafening,” said Consultative Committee member Prof. Julio Teehankee.
The controversy over a “joint exploration” by China and the country of resources in the West Philippine Sea continues as this is questioned in terms of sovereignty, and therefore, unconstitutional.
Many of these challenges will continue to threaten our growth in 2019 along with poverty which tops our list. This, because despite rising GDP and having become one of the fasting growing economies in the region, we were unable to attain our target in poverty reduction and still remain at 21.5%. Surveys indicate that involuntary hunger is experienced by 13.3% or 3.1 million families every three months.
Thus, the challenge of moving towards a more inclusive growth.
Which will not happen unless we commit to attain a drastic shift towards a more productive economy, e.g., the manufacturing sector. Instead, a large sector of the employed is in the service sector and in occupations that do not provide adequate compensation. The BPO industry is facing threats from automation and will need to upgrade skills to high-value industries such as healthcare and information management.
But beyond this shift, we must continue to examine the causes of these systemic flaws and why they persist.
We need to further examine our historical antecedents, our cultural values, as they explain who we are and how we look at the world around us. We need to harness the arts and our cultural heritage to strengthen our cultural identity and capacities for creativity and innovation. We must examine and strengthen our educational system, specifically focusing on how we can prepare ourselves to enter the competitive challenges of the fourth industrial revolution and to participate in a sharing, cooperative society.
2019, hopefully, will usher us to more opportunities in the search for innovative and sustainable solutions to the challenges presented by the new technologies and a new world order.
We have to confront difficult issues of governance, social and cultural practices that persist and hamper the institutionalization of creative changes. Establishing community and national dialogues could help us refocus on needed citizen action. We can start with a doable project like focusing on entrepreneurial and cooperative ventures. Or joining groups such as “Me Too” or BabaeAko” intended to bring back respectability to women. Or, programs for the “socially excluded” – among them, the LGBTs, the PWDS, AgeDiscriminated groups – children and older persons and indigenous people.
These ventures and disadvantaged groups lack access to resources, employment, social services, and legal protection. They face discrimination, abuse and violence. And for those who hope for a fairer and more democratic distribution of political power, they need to join political advocacy in broadening participation.
May we pray for a more equitable and kinder 2019!