Sunday, January 29, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns

Unity

Tony LopezbyTony Lopez
June 15, 2022, 12:10 am
in Columns, Opinion, Virtual Reality by Tony Lopez
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

“It is a crisis that BBM’s administration must overcome if he is to achieve three things—be a great president, redeem his family’s tattered reputation, and bring his country to upper middle class status by the end of this decade”

Social cohesion

That is how influential congressman Joey Salceda calls the one great quality of the incoming presidency of Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. (Bongbong Marcos or BBM).

The Albay congressman credits two men for this social cohesion – outgoing president Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Marcos Jr.

During his six-year presidency, Duterte unified the country, integrating the deep separatist south with the powerful north, where Manila is. His performance made him the most popular president in history with the highest job, approval and trust ratings of any outgoing president in history.

BBM rode on this popularity. Voters gave him their largest mandate ever—31.6 million votes, 59 percent of the total votes cast for president last May 9.

ADVERTISEMENT

For three reasons: One, the record of his father, Ferdinand Sr.’s 20-year presidency (he was good, if not great); two, BBM’s own likable personality; and three, they wanted a continuity of Duterte, for another six years.

In what Foreign Secretary Teddyboy Locsin calls the cleanest election in history, BBM won in 64 of the 80 major provinces, 25 of the 27 largest cities (including the 15 cities of Metro Manila and the cities of Cebu and Davao, both the population hubs of the south), and in 15 of the 17 regions.

In short, BBM won handily in 80 percent of the archipelago. That’s social cohesion.

Why is it important to talk about cohesion or national unity now?

Because the nation is facing the gravest crisis in its 124-year history as Asia’s first republic.

It is a crisis that BBM’s administration must overcome if he is to achieve three things – be a great president, redeem his family’s tattered reputation, and bring his country to upper middle class status by the end of this decade.

The crisis comes from three things – a food crisis, an energy crisis, and the worst education that a country’s young could possibly obtain. Filipino teenagers are the worst performing in the world—in reading comprehension, in math, in science.

The country does not produce enough food to feed its teeming 110 million.

Easily 25 percent of the people’s food needs must be imported—rice, corn, fish, chicken, pork, beef, in fact, anything edible, must come from abroad paid for with hard earned dollars of 12 million overseas Filipinos who remit $32 billion annually to their home country.

OFWs have boosted the country’s foreign reserves, which amounted to $108.5 billion in March this year, but are rapidly dwindling because of rising costs of imported goods and services.

“The war in Ukraine is leading to high commodity prices, adding to supply disruptions, increasing food insecurity and poverty, exacerbating inflation, contributing to tighter financial conditions, magnifying financial vulnerability, and heightening policy uncertainty,” said the World Bank in its Global Economic Prospects report released June 14, 2022.

“Agricultural prices are forecast to rise 18 percent this year, above previous projections, reflecting weaker grain production in Ukraine as well as much higher input costs, including for fuel, chemicals, and fertilizers,” reports the World Bank.

According to the bank, “fertilizer prices are expected to increase by nearly 70 percent in 2022, due to soaring input costs, reduced production, and trade disruptions Russia and Ukraine are key exporters of wheat, together accounting for about one-quarter of global wheat exports.

Russia is also the world’s largest exporter of fertilizers and has instituted new quotas and restrictions on exports. About 90 percent of Ukraine’s grain exports flow through Black Sea ports, which are not currently operational.”

The Philippines has among the highest energy costs in the world. Energy is easily 20 percent of the cost of producing nearly everything and of a household’s average spending.

The country imports nearly all of its oil needs. The price of imported oil has tripled in two years to today.

In 2020, the average price of crude was $39.68 per barrel. Today, crude is $100.66, an increase of 154 percent, or 2.5x.

On Tuesday, June 14, crude oil, per barrel, was quoted at $121.80, with the benchmark Brent crude at $123.25, 2.9x the 2020 average of $41.90.

Says the World Bank: “Energy prices are forecast to rise 52 percent in 2022, 47 percentage points higher than previously projected. Brent crude oil prices are forecast to average $100/bbl—an upward revision of $24/bbl.”

The global lender adds: “In contrast to previous oil price spikes when plentiful coal and natural gas enabled substitution away from oil, the prices of all fossil fuel energy sources are currently very high, which reduces the possibility of easing price pressures by substituting to cheaper fuels.”

What is the impact of the mis-education of the young?

Joblessness, massive joblessness because job seekers lack the skills, basic skills, to be useful in their work. About 30 million Filipinos either have no jobs or have no jobs because they have gotten tired looking for a job.

A phenomenon not seen since the 1970s has emerged—stagflation, which is slow economic growth and high unemployment accompanied by rising prices.

In the 1970s, prices rose so high they hade to be brought down, by high interest rates.

“The interest rate increases that were required to control inflation at the end of the 1970s were so steep that they touched off a global recession, along with a string of debt crises in developing economies, ushering in a ‘lost decade’ in some of them,” recalled the World Bank’s GEP report.

Warns the World Bank: “The danger of stagflation is considerable today. Between 2021 and 2024, global growth is projected to have slowed by 2.7 percentage points—more than twice the deceleration between 1976 and 1979.

“Subdued growth will likely persist throughout the decade because of weak investment in most of the world. With inflation now running at multi-decade highs in many countries and supply expected to grow slowly, there is a risk that inflation will remain higher for longer than currently anticipated.”

President BBM, now more than ever, needs to rally the nation behind him. His immense mandate gives him the gravitas to make that call. It’s now unite now—or perish together.

biznewsasia@gmail.com

Tags: Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.Rep.Joey Salcedasocial cohesionTony Lopez
ADVERTISEMENT
Tony Lopez

Tony Lopez

Related Posts

More opportunities for Pinoy boxers

byManila Standard
January 28, 2023, 12:20 am
0
8
More opportunities for Pinoy boxers

Games and Amusement Board chairman Richard Clarin recently visited Thailand to watch Filipino boxers fight for regional titles. It provided...

Read more

Why POGOs must be banned

byEmil Jurado
January 28, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
A tribute to Bob Garon

"It would do well for BBM to get advice from veteran AFP generals, since they have been there and done...

Read more

Justice delayed is justice denied (Part 2)

byTony La Viña
January 28, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
Christmas path to peace

"The basic principle is that no one should be deprived of liberty unless there has been a trial and final...

Read more

In the end, PH loses in POGO and other gambling operations

byManila Standard
January 28, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
RSA: Mr. Malasakit, the environmentalist

"POGOs and other forms of online gambling have to stop. Because at the end of the day, the country only...

Read more

Is the world about to ignite World War III?

byRod Kapunan
January 28, 2023, 12:00 am
0
8
Inauspicious moment for a democracy summit

“Knowing the psychological thinking of the West, it seems the West are eager to send their weapons to Ukraine as...

Read more

Beijing says one thing and does another

byManila Standard
January 27, 2023, 12:20 am
0
8
Beijing says one thing and does another

Upon his return to the country from a three-day state visit to China where he met with Chinese President Xi...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Army Navy supports Club200 Endurance Race
  • Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0
  • DOJ: We won’t yield to ICC
  • PBBM raises 7 priority bills in talk with Congress leaders
  • US Defense chief sets PH trip next week
  • Gov’t eyes link of BI officials to jailed Japanese mob boss
  • Angel wings
  • Low pay keeps guidance counselors from school

Advertisement

Latest News

Gov’t eyes link of BI officials to jailed Japanese mob boss

byManila Standard
January 29, 2023, 1:00 am
0
8
Koreans top list of fugitive aliens captured by BI

The Department of Justice will investigate Immigration officials who may have been in cahoots with a Japanese national in running...

Read more

Angel wings

byManny Palmero
January 29, 2023, 12:53 am
0
8
Bad weather hampers search for Cessna plane

Visitors have fun having souvenir photos taken with huge angel wings at the backdrop at Tambaan Farm in Hilongos Leyte.

Read more

Low pay keeps guidance counselors from school

byManila Standard
January 29, 2023, 12:50 am
0
8
Sexual offense victims urged to sue 7 teachers

The Department of Education on Saturday admitted there is a scarcity of guidance counselors to attend to the psychosocial needs...

Read more

Biker’s haven

byDanny Pata
January 29, 2023, 12:48 am
0
8
Bad weather hampers search for Cessna plane

Bikers can take their routine round and at the same time enjoy the scenic view at the Lakeshore in Taguig...

Read more

Onions at low P170/kilo as imports boost supply

byManila Standard
January 29, 2023, 12:40 am
0
8
Airport mess trigger: Faulty circuit breaker

The prevailing retail prices of onions have dropped to as low as P170 per kilo for the loc white variety...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App