“The world economy will continue to be beset with challenges brought about by many unsettled geopolitical issues”
THE New Year is now upon us. Looking back at 2024, it was quitea challenging year. From the looks of it, 2025 will be the same with a lot more uncertainties.
The world economy will continue to be beset with challenges brought about by many unsettled geopolitical issues, not to mention the effects of climate change which many countries are now experiencing.
One could say that we are living in a perilous world which even the ordinary citizens realize as shown in the latest poll. Although majority are confident with the New Year, they view it with a lot of trepidation..
Although the country has been projected to be one of several countries that will be able to buck the economic headwinds, it will not be entirely smooth sailing.
In the geopolitical arena, the world is viewing the second Trump term with apprehension, given his governing style.
This is perhaps because while still not in office, he has been issuing statements that have flustered some countries like Panama when he said he wants the United States to take back control of the Panama Canal and his wanting to buy Greenland.
He has also raised the possibility of increasing the tariffs of goods being sold to the US notably from Mexico, China and Canada, signaling the likelihood of a trade war with China.
Whether he is serious with all his pronouncements or just a bluster, we will have to wait and see. One thing for certain. however, is with Trump, one can never be sure because of his unpredictability. He likes to keep people guessing as he used to say during his first term in office.
In our neck of the woods, all these seem distant to the ordinary citizens who simply want to wish for a New Year with more opportunities so they can improve their lives and that of their families. 2025, however, happens to be a political year for the country.
It is not only going to be an election year but there is also a looming impeachment trial if Congress will push thru with the three impeachment complaints filed against our Vice President.
Instead of our leaders focusing their efforts on the economic well-being of the masses, the year might just start with a fractious political dogfight. If that happens, months will have to be spent on the impeachment process further dividing the nation.
Perhaps, the administration should set aside the impeachment and concentrate first on the midterm elections which is a very necessary process in our democratic system of government.
After the elections, if the new Congress would still want to pursue the impeachment process, then by all means they can go on with it but, hopefully, the results of the elections will help ease tensions between the two political camps.
Doing both almost at the same time frame would be chaotic for the country which badly needs a breather from too much politics.
Another issue our leaders should not forget is the WPS issue with our giant neighbor China and the continuing Taiwan tension which might get us involved.
These two situations cannot be ignored and simply swept under the rug and pretend as if nothing is happening.
Our leaders must develop a united stance on the WPS issue. I refer to both sides of the political divide. Right now, there is no consensus among our leaders and this division is clearly being exploited by those who want to do the country harm.
The other important issue is the just concluded Congressional hearings.
After the much applauded job that Congress did in those hearings, both Houses went ahead and spoiled it by rewarding themselves in the 2025 national budget.
This was probably to fortify themselves for the upcoming elections. What were all those investigations all about?
If corruption was the reason, why do a damn thing that would certainly invite severe criticisms from watchdogs?
The budget eventually signed by the President, of course, removed about P194-b in the budget. Were those the illegal insertions?
Let’s hope but these just seem to show that nothing much has changed.
