It appears the Aquino administration is pressing the right buttons to lead us to a new era? It is reported that with the appointments within the communications team the Administration has completed its core team – that’s great, Congratulations!
The new Tourism secretary said it well: a bad product despite great infrastructure does not sell, e.g., political patronage dictates where airports are upgraded, not where we get the biggest bang? Even an A-Team can’t sell a bad product?
What is a good product? A product that is compelling – that adds value – that is priced right and is presented and communicated right is a good product? In the case of the Philippines, a good product for the Aquino administration is an agenda that is compelling – that adds value – that is fiscally responsible and is presented and communicated right?
What is that agenda? An agenda that clearly and simply articulates its object is a good starting point? Thus: We will start the journey from underdeveloped to developed economy is a good starting point? It is compelling to Juan de la Cruz? It adds value because it spells out what the object is: to drive our GDP per person from $3,300 (PPP) to $33,000 over time – isn’t that what economic development is all about? It is fiscally responsible if it doesn’t blow our deficits sky high? And it is presented and communicated well – in clear and simple terms and is execution-biased? That means there is a well-thought out and coordinated presentation initiative so that Juan de la Cruz could relate to it? It is communicated well if there is a well-thought out and coordinated update efforts so that Juan de la Cruz is well informed? It is execution-biased if it is broken down into a simple set of vital few initiatives that will demonstrate how we will get from where we are to where we want to be? It is execution-biased if the initiatives spell out who will do what, when, where and how?
The devil is in the details? How much do we need to raise our GDP to get to the above GDP per person? We can start with raising exports to the the level of our domestic economy – by an incremental $100 Billion? (It appears government agencies tried zero-based budgeting before and found it too cumbersome and time consuming. It will be if we keep to our ‘inclusion/compassion/perfection’ instinct as opposed to focusing on the vital few, e.g., does it raise revenue or margin or efficiency/productivity?)
What industries do we need to develop rapidly – for example, the 7 strategic industries presented by the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) that could generate $75 Billion in foreign investments?
Of course, the following are mandatory given they are a foundation to our development efforts: (1) Power, (2) Water and (3) Rice? On infrastructure – one of the 7 strategic industries identified by the JFC – which ones must constitute the vital few that will ensure the development or the coming to fruition of the these strategic industries? In short, we have to focus like a laser – because these industries would raise our investments to competitive levels; and thus the ability to tap state-of-the-art technologies and elevate the competitiveness of our products and services?
What will happen to the cronies? The Aquino administration must be guided by the ‘level-playing field’ principle if we are to attract the scale of investments that we sorely need – because we are all in this together?
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