The Salonga Center for Law and Development, the Silliman Law Alumni Association and the SU MBA Program co-hosted a forum with former BSP Governor Dr. Jaime Laya on August 5, 2013, 10-12 in the morning at the Justice Venancio Aldecoa Moot Court on the topic “The BSP and the State of the Country’s Public Finances.”
Dr. Laya started his talk by painting a picture: “The economy grew by 7.8% but unemployment was up and underemployment was also high. We are also noticing that the stock market has plunged. And now the peso is close to P44.00 to $1.00.” He then posed a question: “How do you reconcile that?”
According to Dr. Laya, the main solution being offered by the Government is Anti-Corruption. Daang matuwid. Kung walang korupsyon, walang mahirap. However, there still exists corruption-related issues such as the P10 Billion scam participated in by legislators and non-government organizations which are supposed to be mainstays of development and the $30 Million demand for participation in the LRT Project in Metro Manila alleged by the Ambassador of Czechoslovakia.
He pointed out that “the Philippines has had so many short and medium-term socioeconomic plans which are devised by NEDA, but attention is always being given to current and immediate concerns. And the solutions are short-term. A long range view ensures attention to elements that otherwise fall into the cracks. And in particular, resource conservation as well as operation are nearly forgotten with short-term planning.”
“I have not come across anything that says, that demonstrates leadership.”, said Dr. Laya regarding matters of income inequality and economic issues that the country is facing. “We need unbiased academic thinking, it seems to me. As well as unbiased business and legal thinking on matters like these, on areas that we declare as priority.”, he added.
Dr. Laya ended his talk with these words: “The message that I hope to deliver today is that all of us, and in particular our Government leaders really have to think long-term, notwithstanding the short-term nature of their respective stays in office. And to achieve this, it really involves greater thinking over the environment, over the population, over the specifics of law, over the specifics of implementation, which is what this group can contribute.”
Salonga Center Director Atty. Myrish Antonio and MBA Program Chair and SULAW President Dr. Gloria Futalan bought regarded the forum as thoughtful, enriching and insightful. Dr. Laya came to Silliman University as Guest of Sillimanian Mr. Mariano Lao, Benefactor of the SUHS Lina Rabor Scholarship who was speaker for the SUHS Honors Day.
