Silliman University through its President Ben Malayang III had publicly declared its strategy to cope with the ASEAN Integration in 2015, in preparing its graduates to be able to compete with open borders for jobs and services.
By and large, although there may be financial challenges ahead for SU, an announcement had been made that they are not increasing tuition fees for this school year.
However, they support the other institutions who may need to increase tuition fees, with the intent to increase the salaries and benefits of the faculty.
In fine, on the education sector, this University Town is positioning itself forward towards an ASEAN perspective, in the context of the thrusts of the recent World Economic Forum.
The WEF held in Manila is a vote of confidence on the status of the Philippines as the predicted next economic tiger.
Most experts during the roundtable discussions agreed that education is key towards bringing about inclusive growth in East Asia.
This is where Dumaguete is in a unique position to make its constituents ready for the opportunities in the filed of tourism, hospitality- related activities, and the information technology sector.
The upward economic indicators are significant, in spite of the predicted rise in population.
It is time for the prime movers of our City’s economy “to take full advantage of the situation by investing in more education and skills training which will equip our future workforce with the correct skills to fill the jobs that are being and will be created”, per exhortations of P-Noy.
Indonesian President Yudhoyono said that “we live in an extraordinary era in Asia”. Vietnamese Prime Minister Dung said that “holding the WEF in Manila indicates interest of the international economy” and he lashed out against China’s aggressive stance and its intent to take the necessary legal action. Myanmar Vice President U NyanTun, likewise, expressed their desire to follow the Philippine lead in promoting inclusive growth through sustainable development. The WEF executive chairman praised the Philippines for its rebound inspite of its disasters and other calamities.
There were demonstrators who protested the “rosy picture” painted by the P-Noy administration, but inclusive growth will not occur overnight; it is a journey which is brought about by long, sustained economic growth of at least five years.
That is the question: Will our leaders be able to sustain, if not exceed, the economic growth obtained by the country beyond 2016?
It is an enormous challenge to be able to punish “those who steal from public coffers” to discourage future grafters.
Dismantling the culture of corruption requires the certainty of severe punishment for the plunderers.
When asked about the progress of the investigations on the Negros Oriental 2012 Calamity Fund misuse, Cong. Henry Pryde Teves made the positive report that the Commission of Audit had affirmed its previous findings of disallowances and other irregularities.
Asked about his take on the issue, Vice Gov. Mark Macias tried to sound optimistic, at the same time cautious, because it takes too long to punish plunderers, and the length of time allows the perpetrators to win elections in the meantime.
So that’s the way it goes, but most people who believe in karma know that there is a time for reckoning for people who placed themselves above the law, and who stole people’s money.
This local issue of misuse of public funds is one of those pointed out as a barrier to economic stability.
In all the positive indicators of progress, the centerpiece was the anti-corruption drive of P-Noy. But he cannot do it alone.
It is time for people to wake up, and participate in making good governance the norm, rather that an inconvenient bar for self aggrandizement of those in government who cannot abate their greed.
_______________________________
Author’s email: whelmayap@yahoo.com
