AN EMPHASIS on infrastructural development as exemplified by the ‘build build build’ program is welcome.
By international standards, our overall economic situation as indicated by the debt-gross national product (GDP) ratio is reasonable. Currently at around 40 percent this is considerably lower than many other countries. Until recently, Greece had a debt/GDP ratio of 180 percent and it required a lengthy austerity program to reduce it to a level acceptable to lenders. Italy, a member of the European Union (EU) is getting into hot water with EU bureaucrats due to its ratio of 131 percent and may be subjected to unwanted controls soon.
The Philippines, by a combination of fiscal discipline and good growth, has reached 40 percent, down from a high of 74.5 percent in 2009.
Should we tighten the purse strings still further? Probably not, although there is a groundswell of opinion which says that state-funded, 13 year, compulsory education before students may reach tertiary level is an unnecessary and unwanted extravagance. To bring about saving would, of course, require the repeal of RA 10533 which has inflicted K-12 onto an ungrateful nation. The 2019 Senatorial election sees a bewildering array of candidates. Will one or more of these support the return of our education system to that determined by the 1982 Education Act (and the 1987 Constitution whose framers did not favor compulsory education beyond grade school)? Will the incoming Chief Justice cause the Supreme Court (SC) to examine the constitutionality of RA 10533? After all, the SC received several petitions assailing RA 10533 in 2013. Former Chief Justice Sereno, supporting the wishes of President Aquino, did not subject the Act to judicial scrutiny.
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The Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme is not the howling success that the Aquino administration hoped it would be. I believe this is due to the government sector adopting, or trying to adopt, an ascendancy over the private sector, thereby challenging the partnership concept.
One example was the P20.26 billion project to upgrade Bacolod-Silay airport (BSA). This was unveiled to an unresponsive private sector in 2013. Why was there no clamor to implement this project? I believe that it is because the implementation would result in an unnecessarily glamorous but underutilized facility. Roberto Montelibano, President of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), mentions that we need an extended runway to cater to larger aircraft. But, typically for a provincial airport, its role is as the beginning or the end of a journey. It is not a hub where passengers have a lengthy wait for connecting flights, thereby requiring shops, restaurants, lounges, etc. The runway is basically all we need.
With the longer runway, there will be non-stop flights direct to and from Korea, Hong Kong and other international destinations. Asia will become similar to Europe with non-stop flights to and from provincial airports.
On Nov. 9 BSA will be closed for an airport emergency simulation. If this exercise is successful, then it helps to meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation (ICAO). This means that BSA will demonstrate that it can handle international flights safely.
Negros is a potentially excellent tourist destination. If BSA is able to extend its runway, a substantial beneficial impact on the local economy will ensue.
What we need are effective public and private sector facilitators./PN
