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PAUL Krugman, an op-ed columnist of The New York Times and a
professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
has disputed the theory of “competitiveness” for some time now.
According to this famous economist, the doctrine
of competitiveness is “flatly wrong” if and when we view nations
compete against each other like what big corporations are doing
against one another.
Krugman says “leading nations” are not, to
any degree, in economic competition with each other. That’s it.
How about those countries that are not “leading” the way, like
the Philippines, for instance?
Somehow Krugman’s thoughts pushed me to attend
the 2008 National Conference on the State of Philippine
Competitiveness at the SMX Convention Center on July 15. Why not?
This comparison of competitiveness between nations has emerged to
become the new paradigm in economic development despite Krugman.
It allows us—yes, including Filipinos, to
capture the imagination and reality of global competition and the
strengths and weaknesses of each country.
I’m happy to note that the Philippines is now
trying to resurrect itself with a reasonable 5-point jump to number
40 ranking from its 2007 record. To continue with this momentum, AIM
says the country must hurdle several challenges if it’s really
serious in getting at least 5 points on an annual basis.
According to AIM’s Federico Macaranas, these
challenges include “how” to: 1) innovate in advancing the
country’s creative human capital, 2) mitigate the impact of food,
energy and climate security issues, 3) accelerate the completion of
priority infrastructure projects, 4) pursue education policies that
help develop a globally competitive workforce, and 5) intensify
public-private sector partnerships to fast track political and
economic reforms.
These are legitimate concerns. And so how do we
measure?
First, let’s innovate fast enough to protect
our 88 million human capital now being threatened by Sulpicio Lines.
I must tell you, if this company starts exhibiting again any
behavior incompatible with humanity, then let’s lock its
executives in Congress and force them to watch a videotape of Animal
Planet until they commit in writing to rejoin a decent society.
Second, food, energy, and climate security
issues are real threats to us. I heard these issues when I was in
high school as I wooed a girl named Cecille some 40 years back.
Telling the same issues all over again wasn’t even interesting
then but not now when the government started giving dole-outs and
calling the poor every 24 hours for that hellish administrative
experience which is far more complex than our peace talks with the
MILF.
Third, complete the priority infrastructure
projects. But, first things first—let’s decentralize the selling
of MRT and LRT tickets to avoid choking the queue lines. One
practical approach is to co-brand ticket selling with Mini Stop or
7-11. In the meantime, could we ask Unilever to sell its deodorants
at the best possible price to the commuters?
Fourth, our education policies must be geared
towards shaping a globally competitive workforce. So let’s move
back Secretary Neri to CHED where he can do the least damage to SSS
members. I bet when incorrigible Neri was a baby and his
grandparents took him from the crib, they told him: “My boy,
someday, you’re going to grow up to protect your president.”
Fifth and last is the public-private sector
partnership. Surely, it must be done that way to the exclusion of
other major sectors, like those from the cinema industry. Enough is
enough. There’s nothing wrong with their looks but what’s really
important here is brain and lots of it.
On balance, though, I’m glad I went to attend
that conference. I understand that this government has found a
rationale way, although belatedly in 2006, of fast-tracking the
country’s growth and survival with the creation of the National
Competitiveness Council.
At the center, of course, is our beloved
President. Contrary to what the surveys are saying, many bad things
happen when Gloria Glue is on top. Like for instance, why we can’t
see many things behind those business deals involving other
governments from East Asia?
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Rey Elbo is a business consultant
specializing in human resources and total quality management as a
fused specialty. Reader’s feedback may be sent to kairoshq@info.com.ph
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