CALL FOR LONG-TERM PLANNING

The Philippine Star
10/12/09

As a people, we Filipinos have never been noted for our long-term visioning. The answer may well lie in the environment that nurtures us. Our islands are blessed with a bounty of graces – rich soil that is kissed by gentle sun and rain, a long coastline that promises harvest from the sea and rivers, and an easy life for those who are simple to please.

Even when we do speak about long-term thinking, it can never be longer than 10 years. Even 10 years, as we are so fond of repeating, is a long time and many things may happen in between. Typhoons, earthquakes, and floods have taught us that the best laid-out plans are never foolproof.

Perhaps it is also because we are an archipelago of thousands of islands, physically – and thus culturally divided, that poses as a hurdle to having one united vision. Or it could be our political environment where self-interest has become the norm for many of those seeking elective positions.

Manny Pangilinan’s challenge to candidates

With the forthcoming elections just around the bend, this brings to mind a speech that Manny Pangilinan, as chairman of PLDT, gave before personnel managers. Now more than ever, he said, should we define the country’s long term economic and social priorities, and form a broad consensus around them.

This long-term vision for the country, he said, demands a supportive and competent developmental government, strong political leadership, and entrepreneurial class of business leaders, effective Confucian values, the ability to harmonize the West with the East, while keeping the Asian character.

Think-tank for long-range planning

A couple of years ago, Pangilinan was talking about organizing a think-tank, one that would develop a long-range economic blueprint to help guide the private sector in developing its own specific plans in support of national objectives.

With funds from the PLDT-Smart Foundation, the Center for National Policy and Strategy or CNAPS was eventually set up. It has since been responsible for providing a major input in crafting the telecommunication conglomerate’s vision.

This brings to mind my stint as an executive of Shell for more than three decades. Being a multinational corporation with roots in Europe and America, Shell is a stickler for long term thinking and planning. In fact, there are specialists within the organization whose discipline spans their career lives.

A credible independent think-tank group divorced from politics is something we need to forge a long-range economic and social blueprint for the country.

Manny’s six transformative catalysts

Back to Pangilinan’s speech, culling from the CNAPS studies, he defined six areas that businesses in the Philippines, and even those with an eye to investing in the country, should consider in their long term visioning that could help provide a transformative catalyst in the nation.

First are businesses that are unique to the country’s locational or resource advantages, such as tourism and mining. Studies have shown that both sectors have the potential of being major dollar earners, but need massive infusion of capital.

Second are businesses that are by-products of the skills exodus, namely medical tourism and the retirement businesses. Not only do we have competent and committed doctors and nurses, our naturally warm disposition is a competitive edge that is gaining recognition by people in other countries emphasized Pangilinan.

Businesses should also look at investing in information and communications technology, in particular, the outsourcing industry. We are now being seen as a major competitor of India in terms of business process outsourcing.

Infrastructure

Fourth, businesses should invest in infrastructure – power plants, toll roads, seaports, and airports – to lower the cost of domestic production, provide incentives for investors to locate locally and to promote home employment.

The private sector should take the lead in mobilizing and directing infrastructure spending at these strategic locations. Here, public and private sector partnership will be critical, with the private sector mobilizing the funds, and government providing the relevant incentives, support, and enabling regulatory framework.

Agriculture

Like Pangilinan, I have also believed that agriculture should be given priority. We have two-thirds of our labor force in agriculture, deriving their livelihood either from the land or through fishing or in raising livestock. This collective energy accounts about 40 percent of the country’s productivity.

Agriculture’s poor performance can be attributed to distortions and inefficiencies caused by government intervention in the market. Pangilinan rightlfully noted that laws on agricultural development are not investor-friendly.

We need changes in laws and in mindset to encourage large-scale commercial planning. This has been the experience of Thailand, Malaysia and even Indonesia.

Education

Finally, Pangilinan called on private businesses to invest in education. The recent crisis in education has shown that our aspiring overseas workers need to improve their standards of learning if they wish to successfully compete and gain employment abroad.

Education is no longer the exclusive domain of government since it has been transformed into a pillar of economic activity. More schools for doctors, nurses, midwives, teachers, and other professionals will be needed as the demand from other countries continues.

Manny Pangilinan concluded that if we are to take advantage of Asia’s ongoing prosperity, we have to have more creative leaders both in government and the private sector who will firmly share in the common goal of reducing poverty and building up the country’s economy.

2009 Philippine Collegiate Championship Update

The regional championship phase of the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Championship games is in full swing with games held at Davao City, Naga City and Dagupan City. The Bacolod games are scheduled on October 13 to 15.

The North/Central Luzon regional games held at Divine World Gym, Dagupan City, had to give way to the flood waters that ravaged Pangasinan and surrounding areas, and will resume next week.

Holy Trinity College Wildcats of General Santos captured the Mindanao regional title in the games held at Gaisano Gym, Davao City. At Naga City, the University of Nueva Caceres Greyhounds successfully defended the South Luzon-Bicol regional title.

Both the Wildcats of General Santos and the Greyhounds of Naga will advance to the Zonal qualifying games with the chance to earn seats to the “Sweet 16” Finals. The zonal games will be held in Naga City, Cebu City and Metro Manila.

For updates on progress of teams as they continue the journey towards the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Championship games, visit the official website, www.CollegiateChampionsLeague.net or send email enquiries to PCCL_secretariat@yahoo.com.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, SalcedoVillage, 1227 MakatiCity. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net