Ruffy Magbanua
AS we come close to ending the year, it’s time to wrap up the good and discard the bad. We have seen the best and worst in 2016. And all these things had brought out the best in us as a nation struggling to catch up with the rest of the Asean economies.
What is re-assuring however is that even the worst phase in our lives can change into the most amazing one with great optimism. What is good news is that the saturation point is not yet felt (not yet, literally!) when it comes to the war on drugs and the anti-corruption drive in the bureaucracy.
With 2016 about to close, do we have that feel of being pregnant optimists as we usher in the new year and the years ahead of us?
Optimism they say, are positive characteristics that increase our overall happiness and promote positive well-being at the same reducing depression and chronic stress.
The list of traits of an optimist could be a good read: They think about, reflect on, and emphasize the good things in life. Optimists are grateful and thankful for all their blessings. They don’t complain when something bad happens. They feel that nothing can hold them back from achieving success and reaching their goals. They believe in abundance, and optimists are confident that the world offers plenty of opportunities for everyone to succeed.
Optimism therefore is a skill of emotional intelligence. Positive thoughts, an optimistic outlook, and overall happiness can advance our struggle to become a nation of peace and prosperity.
With 2016 about to close, what optimisms can Filipinos look forward to next year and the years ahead?
A noted economist had painted good reasons to be optimistic based on the significant positive gains registered by the national economy during the first six months of Duterte’s administration.
Can we continue on doing it in 2017? We had an awful stuff that happened over the last six months, but we managed so to stay alive and cheerful. What gives?
Basically, we are a bunch of hardy people with an unbelievably resilient, long-suffering, good-natured and uber friendly kind of national attitude. We are ingenious and a bunch of survivors. And at the end of the day, the Filipinos will just shake off the dirt from their clothes and thongs, and go about their daily grind.
This positive economic outcome was founded on Duterte’s promise to eradicate crime and corruption. It brought back people’s belief in good governance, and restored investors’ confidence.
The latest SWS economic survey says so. We are now the fastest growing economy in Asia and this is mainly due to the resurgence of the country’s manufacturing industry. The country posted a 7.1 percent growth hike— the most robust growth pace in three years.
Another significant milestone gained this year was the forging of the peace talks and indefinite ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Duterte’s China unprecedented pivot and the forging of an independent foreign policy, all in one instance had debunked long held myths about PH-US relations, and thus highlighted a promising PH-China-Russia partnerships.
The substantial improvement in peace and order with 80 percent reduction in drug volume and 39 percent drop in crime. The peace and order gains “represents a decisive effort at ridding the country of specific crime problems never given so much serious attention before.”
With an 83 percent increase in infrastructure spending and improved absorptive capacity, this thrust could drive our country’s GDP to 9 percent in three years anchored on the government’s policy strengths and a blueprint for growth hinged largely on infrastructure. This could usher in a golden age of infrastructure.
And based on the latest economic forecast models, the country can hit nine percent GDP growth by 2019, with infrastructure spending from 5 to six percent of GDP, funded by new taxes and tax efficiencies.
Merry Christmas, dear readers!
E-mail: ruffy44_ph2000@yahoo.com
