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Ramos: seize Asia's economic
opportunities
MANILA - The
Philippines must seize new economic opportunities
in Asia to help improve socio-economic conditions
nationwide, former president Fidel Ramos said
He posed this challenge to President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a news conference
Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
1 upon arriving from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where
he addressed and participated in the Third Asia
Economic Summit (AES 3), which tackled
socio-economic issues affecting the Asia-Pacific
region.
He noted such economic
opportunities are beginning to open up in India,
the world's largest democratic state and second
most populous nation.
"India is emerging
as an engine of growth in the region," he said.
Delegates also tackled India's role as a
new Asian powerhouse next to China during the
summit organized by the Asian Strategy and
Leadership Institute.
According to Ramos,
government must begin exploring how the
Philippines can tap for its goods and services the
existing and future Indian market.
United
Nations data for 2005 show India, a 3.1-million
square kilometer continent, is home to some 1.1
billion people.
India mainly exports
agricultural products, textile goods, gems and
jewelry, software services and technology,
engineering goods, chemicals and leather products.
Key 2003 indicators from the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) also identified India's
main imports as food and live animals, beverage
and tobacco, crude materials excluding fuel,
animal and vegetable oil and fats, chemicals,
machines, transport equipment and other
miscellaneous manufactured goods.
The Bank
likewise said India imports mostly from the United
States, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Switzerland,
Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the
United Arab Emirates and Malaysia.
"So I
recommend that our government explore this
opportunity by forging closer and expanded
bilateral trade links with India," Ramos said.
Observers noted his appeal is timely since
Foreign Affairs chief Alberto Romulo also
announced shortly before Ramos' news briefing a
proposal of the Philippines to establish an East
Asia community continues to gain headway among its
regional neighbors.
He said such a plan
aims to strengthen socio-economic links among
countries in this part of Asia.
An Asian
regional forum is also being planned, Romulo said,
and various sectors are already eyeing Ramos as
the Philippines' representative if this event
pushes ahead.
To help increase the
country's competitiveness, the former president
reiterated his call for Filipinos to end political
bickering and work toward uniting the nation so
the country can address challenges globalization
poses.
"There must be conscientiation
among us," he continued. "Such renewal of one's
internal self will lead to national renewal. This
is just like what happened to people during the
first people power revolution in 1986. They risked
their very lives for the country." Suggesting
there is currently no better alternative to the
present administration, Ramos also said he
continues to support Arroyo.
He said
critics of the proposed Charter change (cha-cha)
must reconsider their stand because the existing
Philippine Constitution is no longer attuned to
prevailing and projected conditions nationwide and
abroad.
"The cha-cha was already
long-accepted as a necessity so we can move a
little faster and regain our dignity before the
community of nations," he reasoned.
Ramos
described the present presidential form of
government as being unresponsive and inefficient
in terms of meeting needs of people since what the
country needs is an efficient and graft-free
government that can adequately and quickly react
to international developments beyond the
administration's control.
"So it is time
for us to wake up," he stressed.
Ramos
proposed a model he believes will allow the
country's smooth transition to a parliamentary
from presidential form of government.
His
proposal requires shortening of Arroyo's term and
holding special elections for the incoming
parliamentary body. Arroya faces scandal that is
threatening her presidency.
Various
critics balked at the idea, noting such a model is
not in accordance with the 1987 Constitution.
"My proposal is for the benefit of people,
so rich and poor will have the chance to rise," he
said. "This transitional system will be less
expensive and is much more democratic. We have to
come up with a winning team."
(Asia
Pulse/PNA) |
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