Philippines now 65th in global ranking

THE global competitiveness ranking of the Philippines has apparently improved from 75th to 65th out of 114 countries, based on the 2012-2013 Global Competitiveness Report, an annual publication of the World Economic Forum. And Malacañang had been harping about the improved economy under the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III.

Palace Spokesman Edwin Lacierda has also upped the ante by saying that the mere presence of President Aquino in the government “is the No. 1 institutional reform in the country.” There had been transparency, accountability and competitiveness, according to him.

Earlier, the National Statistical Coordination Board has it that economic growth which is robust in the second quarter will sustain its momentum. Economic growth reached 6.4 percent in the first quarter on the back of a regime of benign inflation and good performance of the services and manufacturing sectors.

Of the 11 indicators that make up the composite Leading Economic Indicators, seven contributed positively and these were: visitor arrivals, number of new businesses, stock-price index, money supply, wholesale price index, hotel occupancy rate and terms of trade index.

Says Lacierda: “The presence of President Aquino is No. 1. His leadership, his leadership by example, the fact that he is clearly known to the world as not susceptible to corruption is a big incentive is in and of itself an institutional reform to governance.” Among others, Lacierda cited the creation of the Governance Commission on Government-Owned and –Controlled Corporations and the Philippine Business Registration in line with the Aquino government’s good government principle.

The country however still has a lot of work to do if it has to catch up with its neighboring Asian countries. Even the once reclusive communist country like Vietnam has opened up with its “Doi Moi” or openness just to anchor their economy towards capitalism. And they were doing great with their export, you can check those Nike shoes or Northface wind breakers in the US, chances are they were made in Vietnam. Even their tourism industry was doing well. We have yet to see Filipinos not leaving the country for greener pastures overseas because of the availability of jobs here. I had a taste of the Filipino diaspora – bitter sweet work-related experiences in foreign lands.

On Friday, I attended the 21st North Luzon Business Conference in Dagupan City where Clark International Airport Corporation President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano had the chance to drumbeat on the current developments in the Clark airport. Most of the businessmen in Northern Luzon support the development of Clark as the country’s premier gateway.

“If there is one thing that is beneficial to businessmen in Northern Luzon, it was the development of Clark airport,” said Dagupan City Mayor Benjie Lim. It was clear to me that these businessmen do not want an airport in Binangonan, Rizal; in Sangley Point, Cavite; in San Jose, Bulacan or elsewhere. Clark airport will best serve the interests of traders in the North and they do not want to travel further to Manila or outside Manila just to catch their flights.