THE latest Social Weather Station poll reveals that 9 out of 10 Filipinos welcome the New Year with hope. This shows great idealism on the part of our largely millennial-dominated population, and cheerfulness on the part of proud senior citizen card-bearers. With a mindset like that, it’s hard to look for the gloom and doom, especially when January 1 steps in bathed in glorious sunlight.
There are reasons to be hopeful. We have the midterm elections coming up, and the ballot is ours for the shading. I hope that we not only elect the familiar but also try to fill up our list with unknowns with excellent credentials. Running a nationwide campaign is extremely expensive. Good intentions are not enough. Yet, in every race, there will always be the do-gooders and idealists who may not be the most popular, but would have made their Senate seats matter. Seek them out. Listen to them. Give these unknown candidates a chance.
I have high hopes that the government will accelerate its “Build, Build, Build” program from 2019 onward. With massive infrastructure spending, jobs will be created and opportunities to spread economic growth shall blossom. The members of the government’s infrastructure development team, led by Secretary Mark A. Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways and Secretary Vince Dizon of the BCDA, as well as DOTr Secretary Art Tugade, have very good working relations. While they continue to build, the social-development cluster of the Cabinet must waste no time in developing its own grassroots programs to optimize the direct benefits of such projects to communities on-site and those adjacent to every new bridge, airport, seaport and highway to be built.
Integral to all these plans are the need for new and modern international airports. Overseas Filipino workers leaders from all walks of life are hoping that the New Manila International Airport to be built in Bulacan province through San Miguel Corp. will finally break ground. With 100-percent private sector funding and given the provincial government’s full support to this airport project, I see no reason why there must be further delays. If the government through its infrastructure projects were a bit slow-footed in the job-creation aspect, then why not give San Miguel Corp. a chance to pitch in and open the doors to more than a million new jobs? This can be a model for OFW reintegration as we shout out to all experienced airport handlers and designers and engineers overseas to come home and participate in the building of this world-class airport.
Let 2019 become the year of Philippine maritime renaissance. Even as the world acknowledges the excellence of the Filipino seafarer, our competitors continue to step up their game. Indonesia and Myanmar have aggressive overseas maritime programs and are turning out to be our toughest competitors. We need to “upskill” our seafarers and also provide their families with stepping-stones to local entrepreneurship.
The Maritime Industry Authority has developed a maritime industry development program for the President’s approval. The major programs under the proposed MIDP include the development of an international maritime hub, coastal and Inland Waterway Transport System, and Philippine Maritime Safety Enhancement. They also want to step up Marina’s services and programs for our seafarers. According to maritime industry experts, there will be a shortage of 92,000 officers by the year 2020, which is projected to reach 147,500 in 2025. For our seafarers, this shortage represents enormous income and career boosters. The government must support our maritime sector to maintain our excellent reputation in global shipping industry.
If there were one field where more collaboration and work needs to be done, it would have to be in culture and the arts. As we soldier on to build a stronger nation, we have to also feed the national soul. Over the holidays, I binged on Netflix, and discovered this funny, romantic and oftentimes silly Korean series, entitled What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim. It was delightful. Can’t we revitalize our own series-making machineries as cultural exports to the world? I know that some of our TV networks are already doing this, but mostly because Filipinos are now global citizens. It would be great to see more world-class Filipino-made shows on Netflix, as well.
We also have the best songs. A new song penned by my good friend, Dennis Garcia of the Hotdog Band—“500 Tulog na Lang”—brought tears to OFW listeners during the holidays. I did wonder why very few of our local radio stations have picked this up. Perhaps, the talented Miss Universe Catriona Gray can lend her beautiful voice to help promote original Pilipino music during or immediately after her reign.
Our national life must have a purpose, a vision and greater moral clarity. Hope is here, and it walks our corridors with a swagger unmatched by other nations. It will be a good year because our faith and hard work will make it so.
Happy New Year, everyone!