AS MANY OF us dribble the thought of where the Philippines is going – spurred by the dirt, noise, squabbles, and inanities among the supposed beacons of hope in government – one organization I know came up with a plan. Founded in 1886, the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI), the provenance and oldest economic/business association of the country, is revved to help navigate the future of the country (phrase I borrowed for this column’s title).
‘Hope for a better Philippines may be deeply rooted in the mind and heart of most Filipinos, regardless of the political climate. Actionize hope may likewise be a good call to one and all, in big and small ways.’
FROM A GLORIOUS PAST
The Chamber has a glorious past to build on. It contributed in ushering the country to become the “Pearl of the Orient” and a leading economy (GDP per capita) in the ASEAN and Asia in the 1960s. In bouncing back (as it took a backseat for more than 30 years due to martial law), it came to adopt a Work Program Advocacy for the future, which it calls Economic Compass Pillars 5 (ECOMP-P5).
And so one April afternoon was about that, with some 200 fellow hopefuls (participants) invited from the sectors of business, government, academe, and civil society to a conference titled, “Actionize the Missions of Economic Compass Pillars 5”. CCPI president, Jose Luis U. Yulo, Jr. rationalizes, “Actionizing converts good intentions into implemented success to rebuild the country’s once glorious past.”
The plenary session speakers gave clues on rebuilding the Philippines. SEC Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo, recommending “behavioral nudges” to government people especially in the light of corruption; former UP President and DTI SecretaryAlfredo Pascual, egging the very talented Filipinosfrom “potential to prosperity”; former Supreme Court Justice and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, stressing the need for “moral people in government”.
ENVIRONMENT AS AN ECONOMIC PILLAR
The Chamber identified Five Pillars for the country’s growth: The Filipino and Education,Industries and Businesses, The Government, Infrastructure and Environment, and the Economy. The participants were spread out to breakout sessions on these according to their experience. Each session processed desired actions for its designated pillar.
I, of course, joined the session on the infrastructure and environment pillar (combined due to overlapping features, I suppose), owing to my environment advocacy and this column.
There was a consensus on doing a registry of natural geographic attractions that are unique to the Philippines. Use of these has to be controlled: with no-build zones and with observance of carrying-capacity limits for residents, workers, and tourists-visitors. This mainly as respect for God-given attractions.
The opposite was true for the topic on a mix-combination of new energy sources (easing out the “dirty” and diminishing fossil fuel). There was an intense argument on nuclear energy which perked up everyone. Dr. Angelina Galang, a trustee of the Green Convergence coalition and convenor of Ako AngBukas, a movement for climate action gave a firm NO to nuclear energy backed up by science, safety, and cost considerations. CCPI president Yulo Jr. asked that we study more the modular nuclear plants as no accidents are yet reported. This is a debate we can bet to still last even as government leans towards going nuclear.
THERE’S HOPE?
Hope for a better Philippines may be deeply rooted in the mind and heart of most Filipinos, regardless of the political climate. Actionize hope may likewise be a good call to one and all, in big and small ways.
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