Half-time and last minute reminders for the administration

The country’s overwhelming problems on all fronts can be likened to the Hydra. Hydra is a genus of small freshwater hydrozoans. They are solitary, carnivorous jellyfish-like animals, native to the temperate and tropical regions; when the many-headed animal has a part severed, it will regenerate.

Or, likened to a mosquito in a nudist colony, we do not know where to start biting. Our problems are systemic and widespread.

President Marcos customarily flies to every part of the country when calamities or disasters happen and gives aid.

This is without doubt an endearing Filipino family trait of damayan and bayanihan. The heavier weight on his shoulders, however, are the various economic and social problems at the core that require resolute leadership:

1. Poor gross domestic product and an underperforming economy since 2016;

2. High unemployment and underemployment rates;

3. Double-digit high poverty rate;

4. Negative yearly trade balances where our imports far exceed export earnings;

5. Government operating deficits flowing into government debt buildup, averaging P1 trillion annually;

6. Low inflows of foreign direct investments compared to our peers in the region due to our low rating on ease-of-doing- business; and

7. Uncontrolled population increase and the leech-like hold of political dynasties keeping the country in political bondage.

See Also

Talk of the Town: Sara Duterte trial: Is it too late?

The President with all his good intentions cannot be everywhere. The executive branch has 23 departments covering all areas of governance and each should be able to address its concerns directly and be accountable. So much water has flowed under the bridge, but there’s still time to address the urgent problems, like critical food security, where the Department of Agriculture should be starting to plant the rice and produce the meat needed by our growing population, instead of conveniently relying on importation.

The President should set aside personal considerations and put officials appropriately skilled and experienced for the job in place, and demand significant goals to be implemented and monitored within the frenzied timeline left in his administration.

Faced with these immense challenges, he can still make a difference and need not go quietly into history.

MARVEL K. TAN, CPA.,

captbeloytan@gmail.com