“The economy grew 7.5 in the 2nd quarter compared to a year ago, the fastest rate in two decades” so said President GMA. This she did by increasing revenues, cracking down tax evaders, strengthening the peso against the dollar and creating jobs. While the upper bracket of the society, the rich, enjoys this growth, somehow, the poor, the unemployed, does not enjoy such economic state. There are still many things to do. The government should listen to the pulse of the masses, as they are the direct measurement of economic growth.
The government should concentrate on strengthening agricultural production as this can generate food resources. It should generate investments to create more jobs. But what investors need are infrastructure facilities such as buildings, bridges, roads, airports and low power costs. More so, we have to implement the law. The government should stop smuggling, red tapes, as this encourages corruption, and bribes. In so doing, the government can maintain its credibility and the investor confidence. While Mrs. Arroyo introduced unpopular policies on tax collection such as VAT, the result shows economic strength. What she should do is let these tax and custom agencies hit their target. The, we can sustain economic growth. But the bigger problem is overpopulation. They compete for the same amount of food resources, basic services and job opportunities. The problem is the administration seems to shy away from this problem as many ideologies and many religious beliefs directly confront her, feeling that it will pass away.
So, the gage of the 7.5% economic should not be interpreted on face-value but rather the benefits the masses received. For as long as no criticism neither complaints is manifested by the poor, the 7.5% growth is genuine.
(This article is my CSPC '06 winning piece)
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