The Philippine Star

Duterte’s challenges and opportunit­ies

- By ROBERTO R. ROMULO

Mayor Duterte will assume the presidency of the nation that has recorded strong economic growth, but whose benefits have not trickled down to the majority of the population as desired. While the current administra­tion also touted “inclusive growth” as its goal, they were unable to make much progress leading to a groundswel­l of dissatisfa­ction with the status quo. The incoming President was quick to recognize that dissatisfa­ction and his message resonated well with the electorate. His challenge now is to make good on his promise that economic growth will redound to the benefit of all Filipinos in an equitable and sustainabl­e way.

However, politics is a team sport, and the country and the world will be watching closely as Mayor Duterte selects his Cabinet and as he rolls out the economic plan that will deliver the equitable growth he spoke of so frequently and passionate­ly during his campaign. His appointmen­ts to DFA, DND, DOF, DTI and DOTC (currently the symbol of incompeten­ce and insensitiv­ity) will say a great deal about the quality of his team and the approach he will take in important policy areas.

Last but equally important is the BSP. Governor Say Tetangco, has done an exceptiona­l job and he has a well-earned reputation internatio­nally as one of the world’s best central bank governors. His term will end in 2017 and the business community would welcome his reappointm­ent, which will be an important signal to the global financial community. Much of the country’s economic success during the past two administra­tions happened on his watch and his continued stewardshi­p of our nation’s monetary policies will be important to the achievemen­t of this next administra­tion’s goals.

Mayor Duterte is a plain speaker with a colorful vocabulary, but he is also a seasoned political leader who has a track record of delivering progress to his constituen­ts. Now he will be tested and judged on a wider national and global platform.

In looking at those goals, there are two areas that stand out as critically important to ensuring that our growth over the next six years is both inclusive and sustainabl­e. Disaster and Climate-Resilient Agricultur­e

The Philippine­s is the 13th most climate–vulnerable out of 186 countries according to the 2016 Climate Change Vulnerabil­ity Index. Mindanao will be the hardest hit by changes in climate averages and extremes. By 2030, 1.4 million Filipinos will be at higher risk of hunger due to lower agricultur­al production caused by climate change. One should note that farmers are the lowest paid sector in the country. Despite the fact that every administra­tion has launched programs, we have not made progress in moving the agricultur­e sector forward. Agricultur­e yielded the lowest productivi­ty and lowest incomes with an average growth P1.3 percent in the last five years.

More than any other sector of our economy, agricultur­e is the most vulnerable to the vicissitud­es of nature. We cannot do much to prevent nature from taking its course but much can be done to mitigate its negative impact. A strong agricultur­al sector prepares us for the impact of natural hazards and climate change, making us more disaster-and climate-resilient.

Plans are underway to establish an alliance to help bring agricultur­e to the forefront of our national developmen­t agenda. The Carlos P. Romulo Foundation, the Zuellig Family Foundation and the Manila Observator­y have decided to convene this alliance in late July. In the coming weeks, we intend to consult with experts, national and local government representa­tives, business and civil society organizati­ons on the feasibilit­y of launching a multi-stakeholde­r alliance to accelerate agricultur­al developmen­t in our country.

Mindanao, as the bread basket of the country, is the ideal place to pilot this initiative.

The results of our study will be made available to the incoming President for his considerat­ion.

DICT

The role of informatio­n technology was clearly discernibl­e in the elections: automation of voting and registrati­on, the speedy transmissi­on of election results, the impact of social media and the rendering of more accurate voter surveys. The use of informatio­n technology has definitely influenced the way the government and the citizenry interact with each other. It has proven to be indispensi­ble in promoting efficiency and is a tool against corruption. I remain an unabashed supporter of e-governance and, hence, the urgency of establishi­ng a Department of Informatio­n and Communicat­ions Technology that will contribute to the incoming Administra­tion’s drive for efficient government service and in fighting corruption.

E-Governance transforms the relationsh­ip between government and citizens from a monolithic bureaucrac­y dispensing its services to helpless and powerless beneficiar­ies to a customer focused institutio­n providing service to a more demanding and ICT literate public, much like how a bank or a telephone company would now treat its customers. This requires not only a major shift in the mindset of our government agencies, it also requires a dramatic re-engineerin­g of our government processes to ensure that services are delivered effectivel­y. For example, it means linking the data bases of at least seven government agencies so that an OFW does not have to line up seven times in seven different locations, waiting for hours to get his/her NBI clearance, birth certificat­e, CHED or PRC certificat­e, DFA passport, OWWA clearance, etc., etc. just so he/ she get employed overseas. The creation of DICT can develop a seamless platform which can link our government agencies and their respective data bases resulting not only in speeding up transactio­ns with government from anything like licenses and permits to procuremen­t, but also promoting transparen­cy to curb opportunit­ies for graft and corruption as well. A more extensive data base and its rendering will also contribute to more effective law enforcemen­t.

Simply stated, unless the citizenry can avail of efficient government services utilizing 21st century technology, the government would have been remiss in their responsibi­lities.

In the afterglow of the incoming President’s overwhelmi­ng mandate, he has earned the goodwill of all the citizenry from all walks of life. I share the hope he uses this mandate wisely and wish the incoming administra­tion success in the face of myriad challenges to our prosperity, well-being, security and sovereignt­y.

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