"NOT yet in a deep s—t." A slang we normally hear from one who is facing a problem and in a tight fix. The precarious financial balance may be giving Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez a scare and sleepless nights. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted like what most countries are experiencing since the pandemic. It is aggravated by the enormous corruption committed by the thieves in Duterte’s administration. The overpriced personal protective equipment, the billions lost in the PhilHealth money, ayudas controversy, etc. Over the weekend, Dominguez said he will push through with the plan to privatize functions of the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. It is not yet a desperate move. What is desperate will be the sale of government properties just as the thinking of selling prized real estate in Japan that are part of reparations after World War 2 ended.
Once I wrote in the space why the giant property developer Ayala Inc. elected to locate in Porac town instead of developing a vast track, say in Clark’s subzone or at the New City. The difference is the fact that the Porac property was purchased which they can call their own, while Clark Development Corporation and Bases Conversion Development Authority can only enter into long-term leases. The law prohibits the sale. It will take a congressional approval before the vast lands of the former US military installation can be sold to private ownership. Sale and lease can be the mode. Now think about this and make a mathematical calculation if and when the government can privatize the whole of former Clark Air Force Base. On the fenced area alone, for sure trillions will be realized. Lots and lots of moolah. I am very sure the likes of Dae Sik Han, owner of WIDUS Hotel and Casino, Hongkong businessman Jack Lam, operator of FONTANA Leisure and Resort and Chairman Jo of SUNVALLEY will prefer to purchase their locations now. That’s in line with paying a hefty price of $2 per square meter per month. Imagine the other locators like Yokohama Tires, L& T and all those duty-free shops making the land purchase. We will need the biggest calculator to sum up the amount. In the end, there’s no worry to get the money to purchase the coronavirus vaccine which will cost $10 per vial for the 109 million Filipinos. If government allowed the purchase of Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, why not the fenced area of Clark Freeport?
***
Leaders today learned to have a vision prepared for the future of their communities, compared to the past few generations of leaders our country had. Sorry to say but many or maybe all weren’t forward-looking. Look at our towns and cities today. They are no longer live-able because there was a lack of vision among the leaders of yesteryears. There are no railways working anymore in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Bangladesh, considered one of the poorest countries, looks better. This country has a railroad system. Four years of Duterte and counting, his Department of Transportation failed.
The ride from Tutuban main station in Manila up to Damortis in La Union and making stops in Malolos and Angeles are only memories now. Even MacArthur Highway became so narrow and government only started the expansion during President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's watch. How many presidents of our country came from the central and northern Luzon, say Elpidio Quirino, Ferdinand Marcos, Ramon Magsaysay, the two Macapagals and the two Aquinos. How many speakers of the House of Representatives came from central and northern Luzon? What happened to their advisers? There was never a national strategy drawn and, if ever there was, it was not implemented.