I mentioned some time ago that economic liberalization is BADLY NEEDED because of the rising debts. Yet, the opponents tend to say, "Well, too bad Marcos had to exist and he stole all our wealth!" I'm not going to deny that the Marcos Regime ran the Philippines dry. However, waiting for the Marcos wealth to be recovered is just like Juan Tamad waiting for the guava to fall into his mouth. Marcos' regime ran the Philippines poor not only because he stole - it's also because of RAMPANT PROTECTIONISM. The issue is the Philippines would've recovered long ago if the 1987 Constitution was more FDI-friendly than it wasn't. Sure, one can argue that certain amendments were made but there are still other industries that need to be liberated from the stupid Failipino First Policy of Carlos P. Garcia. It doesn't make sense to hate Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. while still calling Garcia a hero - both of them promoted protectionism!
Do I need to state as MANY TIMES as possible that the real solution is economic liberalization? It's because the OFW phenomenon has made Filipinos MORE DEPENDENT than independent of other countries. Do I need to mention many times that foreign investment doesn't defeat the idea of improving the local business environment? Let's make it an example that a foreign investor will invest, he or she wants raw materials but it's TOO DIFFICULT to export from his or her home country. The solution ends up becoming that foreign investors must now utilize whatever locally available materials there are to reduce the costs of production. The local supplier now gets a new customer. In fact, COMMUNIST leader Deng Xiaoping even said that the color of the cat doesn't matter - as long as it CATCHES MICE. Deng's vision was to turn his communist state into a productive communist state. For Deng, it didn't matter if the buyer or seller was Chinese or not - as long as the buyer or seller had benefited from the grand communist state in the market. The late Lee Kwan Yew didn't self-industrialize Singapore either. Sure, foreign investors will get rich but to continue getting rich - they're still required to PAY RENT to Filipino landowners, pay their income taxes, follow labor laws, and provide job opportunities of for the locals.
The statements are all but in the wish for fast solutions. There's no elevator to success - only stairs. Yes, you must climb the stairs. Besides, who will you listen to between the DELUDED Hilarious Davide and the BUSINESSMAN, the late John Gokongwei, about constitutional reform? Just think that the late Noynoy Aquino's economic legacy wasn't possible WITHOUT foreign investment too. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, hate her all you want, also was for the easing down of certain sectors. Besides, Mar Roxas while he was the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) secretary under Joseph Estrada also was working to ease several restrictions from decades-long protectionism. Want to get the debt paid back? The Philippines needs more businesses and it doesn't matter if they're foreigner or Filipino - it's as long as the provide taxes to pay back that debt!